Many international students in Canada may have to apply for a new study permit if they are shifting to a new university. From May 1, 2025, international students who wish to switch to another school, college, or university will have to apply for a new study permit. To change universities, foreign students need to get a new study permit by applying to extend their current one.
If students fail to apply for a new study permit and switch to a new university, the study permit may be cancelled and will not be approved for another study or work permit in the future.
Starting November 8, 2024, students were informed to be enrolled in the designated learning institution (DLI) named on their study permit. This means they could no longer change DLIs by letting IRCC know through their online account. To change DLIs, they need to get a new study permit by applying to extend their current one.
However, as the new rule was implemented in November 2024, a relaxation was provided to students who were accepted to a new DLI for the Winter or Spring 2025 semester, starting from January 1, 2025, to May 1, 2025.
One was allowed to start studying at their new DLI if they:
- Have been accepted to a DLI for the Winter or Spring 2025 semester (starting from January 1, 2025, to May 1, 2025), and
- Have applied for a study permit extension, and
- Have a study permit that remains valid and that doesn’t have the DLI name printed on it, and
- Meet all your existing study permit conditions
If they met these criteria, they could attend the new DLI they wanted to transfer to while their study permit extension was being processed.
The relaxation period was only for students who were accepted to a new DLI for the Winter or Spring 2025 semester, starting from January 1, 2025, to May 1, 2025.