International Student Advising

This page provides up-to-date immigration and study permit information for current and prospective international students at Keyano College.

⚠️ Students are responsible for maintaining their legal status and staying informed of IRCC requirements.

If you need clarification on immigration matters, please contact our International Department:

 

Never Take Immigration Advice from Anyone Who Is Not:

  • ❌ a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC)
  • ❌ a Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA)
  • ❌ an immigration lawyer

What We Can Help With

Our office can provide advice to international students and their dependents regarding:

  • Study permits
  • Temporary Resident Visas (TRV)
  • Study permit extensions
  • Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP)
  • Study permit conditions

We cannot advise on permanent residency or citizenship applications.

Two Businesspeople Working On Contract Paper

Immigration Complications as an International Student

  • Students must be enrolled in each semester during their program of study (excluding regularly scheduled breaks)
  • Since June 1, 2014, it has been a condition for all study permit holders under IRPR 220.1(1)(b). Students must consistently engage in and progress through their academic program. Failing to meet this condition can result in loss of status, impacting not only their ability to remain in Canada but also their eligibility for post-graduation opportunities, such as the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
  • You must always remember to abide by your study permit conditions: Your conditions as a study permit holder in Canada
  • Cannot take leaves from studies, unless it’s a reason acknowledged by IRCC
  • You cannot work, if you are an international student and:
    • You are a new student, have arrived in Canada, but have not yet started your program at your DLI
    • You are currently on an authorized leave from studies from your DLI
    • You are not an active student AND it is NOT your scheduled break.

Key Immigration Terms & Concepts

  • A study permit is a formal authorization issued to foreign nationals, enabling them to undertake students in Canada. This document is a larger paper form given to you at a port of entry into Canada.
  • A provincial attestation letter (PAL) is provided by the province or territories where the applicant plans to study, confirming that the applicant has been assigned one of the spaces allocated to the province or territory by IRCC.

Both a Letter of Acceptance and a PAL are required to obtain a study permit in Canada. PALs are issued to students by the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) they applied to.

Scheduled Break: is a break from your study of program. For example: You started in Fall 2024 and your program a scheduled break for the summer months (end of April- Late August). That would mean it’s a designated scheduled break from your program.

  • Scheduled breaks might include reading weeks, breaks between terms, and Spring/Summer terms (depending on the program). Eligible students may be able to work full-time during scheduled breaks. To be authorized to work during the scheduled break, you must hold full-time enrollment during the mandatory terms before and after the scheduled breaks.
  • Every program might have different break times due to your starting intake
    If you decide to take courses during a scheduled break, it is still considered a break, but you’re choosing to take courses for “xyz” reasons.

Authorized Leave: Approved by the school for valid reasons, including:

  • Medical reasons or pregnancy
  • Family emergencies
  • Death or serious illness of a family member
  • Other school-authorized leave
  • School closures or strikes
  • Changing schools
  • Deferring program start date (must start next semester and obtain an updated Letter of Acceptance)

Note: You cannot work during an authorized leave, even if your study permit allows it.

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an open work permit available to eligible international students who have completed their studies at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada.

Students that have completed a program for the duration of 8 months or more, is ELIGIBLE for a PGWP. However, issuances of PGWP are at the discretion of the IRCC processing officer.

To qualify for PGWP, students must:

  • Graduate from Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
  • Maintain full time student status during their program, except for:
    • Their final semester, where part-time studies are allowed.
    • Approved leave of absences from your DLI
  • Apply for the PGWP within 180 days of completing the program.
  • Hold a valid study permit at some point during the 180 days preceding the PGWP application.
  • Complete at least 50% of your program IN PERSON in Canada.

  • A TRV (Temporary Resident Visa) is a counterfoil document placed inside the passports of foreign nationals who are not visa exempt. This physical document issued by a Canadian visa office, which indicates that the individual has met the requirements for temporary entry into Canada.
  • An ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is a digital pre-screening process for visa-exempt travellers entering Canada by air. This mechanism allows Canadian authorities to assess admissibility before the traveller arrives.

Working While Studying

Work On-Campus

International students can work on campus without a separate work permit if they are enrolled full-time at a designated learning institution.

Work Off-Campus

Eligible students can work up to 24 hours per week during studies and full-time during scheduled breaks.

Work As a Co-op Student or Intern

Students in co-op or internship programs must apply for a co-op work permit before starting their placement.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Letter of Acceptance and PAL from your Designated Learning Institution, and study permit application documents required by IRCC.

  • Proof of identity
  • Proof of financial support
  • Letter of explanation (Study plan)
  • Medical exam
  • Other documents depending on your home country

There are two ways to check the status of your application to IRCC:

  • Log into your IRCC account and check your application status – click “check status and messages” under the “View my submitted applications or profiles”
  • You can contact IRCC through their webform

  • Not abiding by your study permit conditions
  • Not maintaining full time status in ALL semesters of your program. With exception of your LAST semester.
  • Not graduating from your DLI
  • Not applying for your PGWP within 180 days of completing your program 
  • Not holding a valid study permit at the time of applying for your PGWP
  • Not completing at least 50% of an eligible program in person in Canada.

Yes, if your employer requests a break letter, you can obtain one from the Office of the Registrar for a fee of $5.00 + tax.

  • You would need to fill out the proof of enrollment form.
  • You can handwrite in here (where highlighted) "break letter" or any other spot on the form. (Please see screenshot)

A part of the enrolment form

  • Make sure to fill out the top portion of the form, middle portion, method of delivery and method of payment.
  • Once complete, forward it to Registrar@keyano.ca

Yes. If you choose to take courses during a scheduled break, you may still work full-time.

Learn more about Off-campus work here.

Study permit holders must make sure to attend all semesters of their programs. You can engage in breaks during your scheduled breaks that the institutions give you for your program of study. Please be sure to view the academic schedule & course registration for your program to confirm scheduled breaks.

Authorized leave of absences is another option for international student to take a leave off from studies. However, there are specific reasons for requesting these leaves:

It counts as authorized leave if:

  • your school has authorized a leave from your study program for
    • medical reasons or pregnancy
    • family emergency
    • death or serious illness of a family member
    • any other type of leave your school authorizes
  • your school has closed permanently or because of a strike
  • you’ve changed schools
  • you or your school deferred your program start date
    • In this case, you must start your studies the next semester, even if it starts sooner than 150 days, and get an updated letter of acceptance.

You can’t work on or off campus during an authorized leave from your study program, even if your study permit says you’re allowed to work in Canada.

Approvals are also dependent on the institution. Please note that you have up to a MAX of 150 days to take off from your studies. Learn more about your conditions as a study permit holder in Canada.

  • During studies, students can work up to 24 hours per week MAX on off campus employment.
  • During studies, students can work unlimited hours on campus.
  • During scheduled breaks, students can work full time hours.

Study permits: Off-campus work - Canada.ca

Ideally, if you need to extend your study permit you should apply within 30-90 days BEFORE it expires.

Try submitting study permit extensions as early as possible, as there has been a report of delays in receiving decisions on applications.

Extend your study permit or restore your status: When to apply - Canada.ca

  • Keyano College Documents:

    You will need two letters from Keyano College. To obtain these, complete the Proof of Enrolment form twice and save them as two separate submissions with the following selections:

    • One with “Enrollment Dates Only” under the International Student section
    • One with “IRCC Study Permit Extension” (ensure you include your study permit expiry date)

    Complete the top section, Method of Delivery, and Payment section on each form. Once finished, email both forms to Registrar@keyano.ca for processing.

  • Financial Requirements:

    For study permit extensions, you must show proof of living expenses:

    • $22,895 per year, or
    • $1,908 × number of months being extended
  • PAL Exemption Letter

Once a student receives written confirmation of program completion from their institution, they are no longer authorized to continue to work in Canada, as they no longer meet the eligibility criteria in paragraph R186(v). They should apply to change their status (for instance, to visitor status) or leave Canada before their study permit becomes invalid as per section R222.

Once you have submitted your PGWP application and have received a confirmation letter from IRCC of your received application. You can then work full time on maintained status until you receive your approved application.