Changing Your School or Program on a Canada Study Permit

Why changing schools or programs is regulated

Your study permit is tied to studying at a designated learning institution (DLI), and your specific school may be named on it. So if you want to move to a different DLI, switch programs, or change your level of study, IRCC needs to know — you cannot always simply switch and carry on.

The rules here changed recently, and the steps now depend on the kind of change you are making and your situation. Getting this right protects your status and your future eligibility, including for things like a post-graduation work permit.

This is general information, not immigration advice. The current process is set by IRCC and has changed, so verify the exact steps for your situation on the official website before you act.

Changing your designated learning institution (DLI)

IRCC changed how school transfers work. Under the current rule, you generally cannot switch to a new DLI on your existing study permit by simply notifying IRCC, as students once could. Instead, you typically need to apply for a new study permit to study at the new school — this is done through IRCC's application to change the conditions of, or extend, your stay as a student.

The new school must also be a DLI, and IRCC may require a current Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter as part of the application unless an exception applies. Whether you may begin studying at the new school after you apply, or must wait for a decision, depends on your situation and on the rules in place when you apply.

Because this is exactly the kind of rule IRCC has been updating, do not rely on what was true a year ago. Confirm the current school-change process on IRCC's official 'Changing your school or program' page and follow it precisely. Your new DLI's international student office can also point you to the right steps.

• Confirm your new school is a DLI before committing.
• Apply for a new study permit to study at the new DLI, as IRCC's current rule requires.
• Provide a current Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter where IRCC requires one.
• Check whether you may start before a decision or must wait — it depends on your situation; verify on canada.ca.

Switching programs at the same school

Changing your program or field of study while staying at the same DLI is generally treated differently from changing schools. In many cases you may not need a new study permit just to switch programs at the same institution, as long as your permit remains valid and you continue to meet its conditions.

However, the change can still matter — for example for how long you need to study, for your permit's expiry, and for future work-permit eligibility, which can depend on your program. Talk to your international student office before you switch.

Verify on canada.ca whether your particular change requires any action, because the answer depends on the type of change and the current rules.

Changing your level of study

Moving between levels — for example from a secondary program to a post-secondary one, or completing one credential and starting a higher one — can have its own steps set by IRCC.

The key is to keep your status valid throughout. If your current permit will expire before or during the transition, you may need to extend it; if you are moving up a level at a new DLI, the school-change steps above may also apply.

Because level changes interact with both DLI rules and permit expiry, map out your timeline early and confirm the current requirements on the official IRCC pages so you do not accidentally fall out of status.

Protect your status while you change

Whatever the change, the overriding goal is to never let your status lapse. Apply for any required change or extension before your current permit expires, keep your acceptance and attestation documents ready, and keep proof that you remain a genuine, enrolled student.

Keep copies of everything: your new letter of acceptance, any Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter, your application confirmation, and correspondence with IRCC. These help if an officer or your DLI asks for evidence.

If you are unsure which path applies, your DLI's international student advising office is a good first stop, and IRCC's official pages are the authority. Verify before you switch.