Frequently asked questions

Student work experience is a work experience that you must take part in to complete your studies. 

To learn more about student work placements, see the Government of Canada work in a student work placement page. 

As of April 1, 2026 IRCC made changes to the co-op work permit requirements. The on-campus work authorization noted on your study permit should replace the the  co-op or internship work permit. Co-op work permit holders can keep using their permits until it expires.  

My spouse and dependent children here with me. If my spouse or children would like to study would they be allowed to do so? 
Yes, accompanying family member(s) can apply for a Study permit from within Canada. 

As of January 21, 2025, IRCC has changed the eligibility requirements for spousal open work permits for the spouses of international students. The spouses of VIU students enrolled into master's degree programs or a Bachelor of Education program may qualify for a Spousal Open Work Permit 

If you are studying in another type of program, your spouse may not be eligible for a spousal open work permit under the current policy.

For the most up-to-date eligibility requirements, please visit IRCC Help your spouse or common-law partner work in Canada.

No. Children born on Canadian soil are Canadian citizens as per the Citizenship Act. However, a birth certificate is not a citizenship certificate and you need to apply for it. The child’s citizenship does not give a privilege to a temporary resident parent, they are still required to maintain legal status in Canada.

Unfortunately, international students (refugee claimants) are not eligible for benefits under the Canada Student Loan Program. However, the university has various scholarships, bursaries and grants that International Students can apply for. Please follow this link for more information: Money Matters

If you are a full-time international academic student at VIU, you can earn income while you are studying. Enrolling as full time (9 credits or more) at VIU allows you to work 24 hours per week off campus and full time on campus. The best option to offset some education expenses is to take advantage of the summer break to work May to August full-time. Please keep in mind, Study Permit Extension and authorization to work, require being a full-time student in a good academic standing.

Yes, full-time students (enrolled in 9 credits or more in the semester preceding the scheduled break), are permitted to work full-time during scheduled breaks on a valid Study Permit. Also, your Study Permit should have the authorization to work on- or off-campus. If summer is not a scheduled break for your program, you are only permitted to work 24 hours per week.

What if I am part-time due to withdrawal (failed) from my courses and worked in a scheduled break?

Students who do not stop work will be found non-compliant and will lose their ability to qualify for a work permit in future (PGWP). If a student has failed to comply with the conditions of their Study Permit and was engaged in unauthorized work, an Immigration Officer cannot issue or extend a Study Permit for six months. It is called a “six-month ban” for noncompliance imposed on Temporary Residents. Study permit conditions include being a full-time student and in academic good standing

There are many ways to trace International student’s work: through payment records, universities compliance report to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada and other.

I am a BA program student and would like to work off-campus in the summer time, what I am supposed to do?

You need to check if your Study Permit authorizes you to work on /off campus, if yes, then apply for a SIN number. After you obtain a SIN number you may wish to attend Career preparation seminars at VIU and learn how to search for a job.

I am a full-time academic program student at VIU and want to work during the summer break, but my Study Permit does not have any notes in the remarks and conditions section, what I should do?

If your Study Permit does not have any notes, you need to apply to amend it. Please follow this link for more information: Government of Canada: Valid Temporary Resident Documents

I am a full-time academic student at VIU and I know that I am eligible to work on- or off-campus, but my Study Permit has a condition which prohibits me from working, can I appeal a decision?

No, under Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) of Canada, temporary residents have no right of appeal; therefore, the best solution is to reapply for it.

I am an ESL student at VIU from visa exempt country and have International Experience Canada work permit, can I extend it?

No, however, you may wish to review Canada and your country’s agreement. Some countries allow young people to participate in this program more than once.

Students in exchange programs are not eligible for off-campus work authorization.

If you are an ESL, Visiting or Exchange student, you are not eligible to work off campus. However, you can work on campus with a valid Study Permit as per IRPR Section 186 (f).

VIU General Regulations Course load explains full-time status for undergraduate and graduate programs.

I am a VIU graduate and my Study Permit has expired. How can I apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)?

You may apply for a Study Permit Restoration and a PGWP at the same time if you are within 90 days of the expiry of your study permit.  IRCC provides comprehensive instructions If your study permit expires before you apply. Pay close attention to pay the fees to restore your status as a student online and how to include the receipt with your application. 

I am master’s level graduate and applied for a PGWP with my final transcripts but I was granted less than three years Work Permit, what can I do about it?

A shorter PGWP duration may be attributed to either passport expiry date or biometrics validity.  After you get a new passport or provide new biometrics, you can apply on paper requesting the remaining balance of the PGWP.  

No, students in an exchange program funded by their own government, or Canadian scholarship programs, or taking courses online, are not eligible for Post Graduate Work Permits.

I studied one year full-time at VIU. I am continuing my education online from my home country. Can I apply for a PGWP?

You may be eligible for a PGWP only for the portion of the study you took at VIU and you’re applying with 180 days of completion of the VIU program. The online portion of education is not eligible for this program.

Can I keep working on my study permit (24 hrs a week) after I’ve completed my program and before I apply for my PGWP?

No, work after notification of program completion and before applying for PGWP is illegal.

Okay, I don’t want to work, can I just hang out in Canada and apply for my PGWP within 180 days?

It is not that simple. If you haven’t applied for PGWP after 90 days, you must apply to change your status to visitor. 

Apply for your PGWP as soon as possible after program completion and within 90 days. You are eligible to work as soon as you submit a PGWP application if:

• you held a valid study permit when applying
• you were authorized to work off campus while studying
• did not work more than the authorized hours

Yes, you can, however to re-enter Canada your will need a valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). Here is more information provided by IRCC: Travel outside Canada.

I am an MBA student at VIU and decided to work during my internship in my home country. I have now graduated and am still in my home country. My Study Permit has expired. How can I apply for PGWP?

If you are still within 180 days of program completion you may apply for a PGWP from your home country. If you don’t receive a response before you return to Canada you may still come back to Canada (provided you have a valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) if you are from a country that requires a TRV. You will likely be readmitted as a visitor, unless the officer sees that your PGWP was approved while you were away in which case you’ll be admitted as a worker. Note that an officer may refuse entry to Canada as a visitor if s/he has concerns about how you’ll financially support yourself in Canada before you get the PGWP. 

Can I “flagpole” and have my Study Permit extended or obtain my PGWP at the US/Canada border?

No, as of Dec 23, 2024 study and work permit will not be issued at port of entry.

You need to provide a copy of the Confirmation of Permanent Residence Letter from IRCC to the Registrar’s Office (study@viu.ca). That document would be sufficient to switch you to domestic student list.

The status change will affect future payments, therefore you will be charged international fees for the current semester and domestic fees for subsequent semesters of study.

I recently became a permanent resident of Canada. When does my status change effect whether I am charged international or domestic tuition fees?

For tuition fees collected on a semester basis, a status change will affect future semesters at VIU, not the current semester.  For programs charged by installment, charges are based on your status on the fee due date.

Yes, you can claim a portion of your International Tuition fees on your tax return. Please consult with a tax specialist.

Yes you can apply to VIU as a refugee claimant. You may need a valid study permit to attend a program longer than six months in duration. 

Yes, your children can attend public schools without a Study Permit and they will not be charged as an international student.

Apply online. Here is the link: how to apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Your study permit must have language stating you are authorized to work on/off-campus. Here are some examples: 

• "May work 24 hours per week off campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in paragraph 186(v) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR)."
• "May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria, per paragraph 186(f), (v) or (w) of the IRPR, and must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria."

Contact VIU immigration office if there is no language stated on your study permit. 

The conditions of the study permit is to maintain enrollment and make progress towards completing your program. A study permit becomes invalid, regardless of its expiration date, on the date you are no longer a student. Contact VIU immigration office at the earliest to discuss your options.  

Auditing a course may help address your academic concern or pause from the university’s perspective, but it does not help from an IRCC immigration compliance perspective.

Under IRCC rules, audited courses do not count toward completing your program of study because you are not earning credits. As a result, an officer may determine that you were part‑time during the semester.  This can affect:

• PGWP eligibility, which requires full‑time status in official main semesters
• On‑ and off‑campus work eligibility, which also requires full‑time enrollment

Make sure to contact VIU immigration office after consulting your academic or program advisor. 

I am planning to spend my summer vacation (May-August) in my home country, but my Study Permit and Visa will expire while I am abroad. Where should I apply for an extension?

• If you are planning to travel abroad when your visa and study permit is about to expire, extend your Study Permit/Visa from within Canada before you leave.  If you have not applied to extend it before departure, you may apply to the Visa Office responsible for your home country. Please note, processing of your application in a Visa Office may take months to process and you risk missing a significant portion of your semester.

You need to apply for the replacement of your Study Permit and pay a $30 fee. For more information please visit:  Government of Canada: Replacement of an Immigration Document

You need to do the following:

1. Contact the nearest Police Office and report the lost items. Obtain an Incident Report #.
2. Contact your country’s consulate or embassy and apply for the renewal of your passport.
3. As soon as you receive your new passport apply for the replacement of your study permit.
4. Once you receive your replacement study permit apply for a Temporary Resident Visa.

You may request a leave of absence. VIU is required to report student enrolment status to IRCC twice each year. An approved and properly documented leave of absence of 150 days or less will generally not affect your study permit. If you plan to remain outside Canada for longer than 150 days, you should seek immigration advice beforehand, as an extended absence may affect your compliance with study permit conditions and could have implications for future applications, including a study permit extension or a post-graduation work permit (PGWP).

Your study permit is your status document of the student and it should always be with your passport. If you send the originals of your Study Permit to your parent to add to their application package, firstly, it will not be returned to you, secondly, it can be canceled by Immigration Officer overseas. Please avoid knowingly or unknowingly committing illegal actions

As long as your Study Permit is valid, you can safely re-enter Canada.

I misplaced my study permit and applied for replacement and provided copies of all documents, but my application was returned to me stating that it was “incomplete.” What should I do now?

It is important to read the guidelines on the IRCC website for replacement of lost, damaged and destroyed status documents. If you have lost your Study Permit it is important to report it to the police and obtain an Incident Report number and provide a copy of it to IRCC.

I have applied for an extension of my Study Permit but uploaded the wrong Letter in the section of Letter of Acceptance. Also, I did not check MyCIC account, later found out my application was refused. What should I do now?

• You need to apply within 90 days for Restoration of your Temporary Resident status, meanwhile, you are “out of status” and should stop your studies or work until your application is approved. You were in implied status until your Study Permit extension application was under review, you lost your status from the date the decision (refusal) was made.

I forgot to extend my Study Permit. I applied for Restoration. What will happen if the Immigration Officer refuses the restoration of my status?

• You will receive a letter of approval if the restoration is granted and your Study Permit will be issued. If the restoration is refused, you will receive a letter explaining the reasons for refusal and you need to leave Canada immediately.

IRCC has extended its public policy until October 5, 2029, allowing certain applicants inside Canada to reuse a previous Immigration Medical Exam (IME) for up to five years. This means you may not need a new medical exam to extend your study permit. If your current study permit includes a condition or remark restricting you from working with vulnerable populations—for example, children, seniors or persons with disabilities—you may need to apply for a new study permit to change or remove that condition using your last IME if still within that five‑year window.

IRCC use Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is eight hours ahead of Pacific time. Please note, IRCC advises to apply early, up to three months prior to expiry date. 

Yes, you may need to inform IRCC. Here is a link to IRCC-Changing school or program as an international student. This link contains a helpful questionnaire that will provide an answer to your case. 

If you are from a visa exempt country, you can enter Canada with a valid e-TA and study permit. if you are from visa required country you need to apply for a temporary resident visa (TRV) within Canada or from a visa office abroad. A study permit is not a re-entry document, therefore if you do not have a valid Visa you may not be allowed to re-enter Canada.

Yes, you can travel to the USA or St. Pierre and Miquelon and return to Canada on a valid Study Permit. If you are planning to visit countries other than those listed above, you need a new Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).

When you arrive in Canada, the Border Officer puts a stamp on your passport.  By default, that is your visa for six months from the day of arrival. If the officer puts a hand-written date, your temporary resident visa expires on that date. The officer may issue a study permit if you applied prior to coming to Canada or a visitor record. They are status documents, usually visa and status documents expire the same day.

Students from visa exempt countries (many European countries, USA, South Korea, Japan and others) may not have a temporary resident visa sticker in their passport. Instead, students will receive a stamp in their passport by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA).  By default that is a visa. If a student applied and received a study permit, the CBSA Officer may match the dates of the study permit to the visa stamp.  The CBSA Officer may stamp his/her passport upon each re-entry, that would become a valid visa for six months.

Yes, you can, however, we highly recommend you use the same passport you entered Canada the first time. Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) renewal within Canada is the fast process.

I arrived in Canada with a visitor visa and completed my ESL at VIU. Can I apply for a study permit from within Canada?

Yes, students who arrive with a Visitor Visa who are:

• minor children studying at the primary or secondary level
• exchange or visiting student
• short-term students who have completed a course or program of study (ESL, Premaster’s) that is a condition for acceptance at VIU;

may apply for a Study Permit within Canada.

No, students holding a Visitor Visa are not permitted to work on or off campus.