Returning students inside Canada

1. Go to the Government of Canada’s website and create/sign into your IRCC account.
2. Under 'start an application' in your online account, select 'apply to come to Canada'.
3. Under 'determine your eligibility and apply online', select ‘visitor visa, study and/or work permit’, and answer the eligibility questions to generate the document checklist. 
4. Answering the eligibility questionnaire:

• Please note the questionnaire will now ask "Do you have a provincial or territorial attestation letter or meet an exception from submitting a provincial or territorial attestation letter?”   

  • If you are applying for a study permit extension from within Canada in 2026 and are continuing studies at the same DLI, then a PAL is not required. You can select "Yes, I meet an exception from submitting a provincial or territorial attestation letter.". 

  • If you are applying for a study permit extension from within Canada in 2026 and are continuing studies at the undergraduate or graduate diploma level at a different DLI, then a PAL is required.  You can select “Yes, I have a provincial or territorial attestation letter.” 

  • PALs are no longer required for master's or doctoral (PhD) programs in 2026 (even if you are changing your DLI).  You can select "Yes, I meet an exception from submitting a provincial or territorial attestation letter."

  • If you are unsure that a PAL is required for your application or need to find out how to get a PAL, please refer to our PAL information page or connect with an immigration consultant. 

1. Application form IMM5709
   • You need to download the form from your online document checklist and open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it for free. 
   • Please use this IMM5709 form template containing additional instructions on how to complete specific sections.You can also watch our instructional video for completing the IMM 5709 form.
   • The application form is not signed when applying online. Make sure you re-validate and re-save the form after making any changes.
   • We recommend including an alternative secure mailing address to students who are going to be moving from their current residential address within the six months following their application submission or for students who have issues receiving mail at their current address. If you are looking for a secure mailing address, please scroll to the bottom of this webpage for details on how to have your permit(s) sent to the International Experience Centre (IEC) in Needles Hall.
2. ​A proof of enrolment letter from the University of Waterloo confirming registration for the current term, past academic terms, anticipated enrolment, and anticipated completion date. This is to be uploaded to your online application under Letter of Acceptance.
   • Get your free proof of enrolment letter in Quest which will confirm your student enrolment status. The letter includes your student ID number, enrolment status, enrolment history, program length and anticipated completion date.
     • If you receive a message directing you to order a modified proof of enrolment letter, you will receive instructions from The Centre. Please note: there is a fee for students who require a modified proof of enrolment letter.
   • If you are studying in a Canadian high school and are not at Waterloo yet, use your Offer of Admission and Letter of Acceptance.
3. Passport scans

   • Include the biographical page and all pages that include content from Canada or another country: e.g. stamps, visas, or markings. 

   • Include your current study permit and co-op work permit (if applicable).

   • If you have renewed a passport since beginning your studies in Canada, include the past passport(s) with the newest passport first in the file.

   • All images will need to be merged into 1 file which must be less than 4MB.

4. Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL or TAL) - if applicable

   • You must upload a valid PAL/TAL issued by the DLI you are planning to attend.

     • OR

   • Proof of Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL or TAL) Exception - if applicable

     • You should upload a copy of your current valid study permit here along with the following statement. For example: "I am extending my study permit for the same level of study at the same DLI. Therefore, I meet one of the exceptions listed under the Who Doesn't Need a PAL/TAL heading at the following IRCC website."

     • Merge into one PDF file.

5. Proof of financial support
   • Generally, this means proof of tuition payment for the current term and next term (if available) from Quest and your past four months of bank statements showing the minimum living expenses for the next year for you plus additional funds if you have dependents in Canada with you. Please note: as of September 1, 2025, the minimum amount of funds required to cover 1 year of living expenses in Canada will be $22, 895 CAD.  If you don't have this, then you'll have to look at providing other documents, which could include proof of funding​ or scholarship, proof of a job, ​or proof of financial support from family ​shown through a letter of support from them and their bank statements or proof of their employment. 
6. Digital photo of you taken in the last six months that meets the requirements. 

7. Co-op letter (if you are in a co-op program) 

   • Graduate students:
     • You will need to order a modified proof of enrolment letter from The Centre.  When ordering the letter, in the notes box, state that you would like to order a proof of enrolment with co-op letter statements.
     • If ordering the letter via The Centre’s website, you will be required to pay a processing fee.  If you would like to avoid this fee, you can request the letter via e-mail (askthecentre@uwaterloo.ca), phone (519-888-4567 ext. 42268), or go to The Centre in person.
     • Please note: the exemption from having to pay for a modified proof of enrolment letter is only for graduate students requesting a letter with co-op statements.

   • Undergraduate Students:

     • Get your free proof of enrolment letter in Quest.
     • If you receive a message directing you to order a modified proof of enrolment or if the letter contains inaccurate information, you can order the modified letter via The Centre’s website.
8. Proof of immigration medical exam 
   • A medical exam is required if you were outside of Canada in one or more of the designated countries in the last year for a minimum of six months or if you want to work in one of the listed occupations. 
9. Family Information form (if requested in your document checklist)
   • Directly download the version given to you in your document checklist. Fill it out, print, and sign the form where required, then scan and upload it.
10. Schedule 1 (only if you answered the IMM5709 Background Information questions 3-6 with yes)
11. Letter of explanation or any additional documents (if applicable)
12. Biometrics

    • Biometrics collection is required for in-Canada temporary residence applications, if you have not completed biometrics in the past. 

    • If you have not provided biometrics before, you will need to select “no” when answering the questionnaire question regarding biometrics and pay the $85 biometrics fee. After submitting your application, you will receive a Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL) in your online IRCC account with further information on how and where to provide your biometrics.

    • If you have provided biometrics to Canada in the past, use the check status tool to find out if your biometrics are still valid. 

    • NOTE: although biometrics is valid for 10 years, and although you had completed biometrics in the past, if the status tool indicates that your biometrics are NOT valid, we recommend that you still select “no” when answering the questionnaire question regarding biometrics and pay the $85 fee for biometrics and complete biometrics for your application. 

    • Your status documents will not be issued beyond a biometrics expiry date. If your biometrics is expiring in the near future, and the biometrics validity does not encompass the full duration of your temporary residence application, we recommend that you still pay for biometrics and complete biometrics for your application. 

    • Please book an appointment with us for assistance! 

IRCC can ask for any other documents throughout the application process.

Alternatively, if you are outside of Canada, you would apply for a new study permit. This will be similar to when you applied for the first study permit and will be processed by the Canadian visa office outside of Canada serving the country where you are residing. You also need to include proof, and an explanation, of the studies you have already done in Canada. If you are a United States citizen or Green Card holder, or a resident of Greenlandor Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, you could also apply for a new study permit at a Canadian port of entry.

You can check estimated application processing times on the IRCC website. The IRCC Client Support Centre is available from within Canada to answer questions by phone or web form

If you are accepted into a co-op program and have a degree required work component at the University of Waterloo, one of the questions you will be asked when starting a study permit application on your IRCC Secure Account will be: “Do you also want to apply for a work permit?”  You should select “Yes, I wish to apply for a co-op work permit.”  This will add the co-op letter requirement to your document checklist. 

Before April 1, 2026, international students in a degree program with a co-op component/degree required internship were required to have a separate co-op work permit to undertake their work placements.

As of April 1, 2026, a separate co-op work permit is no longer necessary.  IRCC has announced that moving forward, co-op students may instead use the work authorizations included on their valid study permit to perform co-op work placements.  IRCC will no longer be issuing co-op work permits.  Instead, you can use your valid study permit, as long as it has a condition or remark which indicates you may perform on-campus work. 

Examples of this condition or remark are provided below:

• May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v), or (w).  Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria, or
• This permit does not authorize the holder to engage in off campus employment in Canada.  May accept employment only on campus if meeting criteria as per R186(f).  Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.

Please note: if your active study permit does not have a condition or remark allowing you to perform on-campus work, then you should request an amendment to your study permit.  Please contact the immigration consultants for more information and assistance.  IRCC considers co-op placements / degree required internships as on-campus work as the main employer would be the University of Waterloo. 

If you have already applied for a study permit with co-op work requirements included, you don’t need to contact IRCC.  They will still proceed with the application.  If you applied for a separate co-op work permit but no longer need one due to the new requirements, please wait until IRCC withdraws it for you. 

• If you need to extend both your study permit and temporary resident visa (TRV) from within Canada, the study permit extension application is completed first, and the application for a TRV is submitted after the new study permit is received. If you are from a visa-exempt country, a new eTA number would be issued with your extended study permit if needed.
• If you apply for an extension before your current study permit expires, you will have maintained status to continue studying in Canada after your old study permit expires until a decision is made on your application as long as you remain in Canada. If you leave Canada while your application is being processed and are outside of Canada with an expired study permit, you will lose your maintained status and must then ensure that you have a valid entry visa (TRV) or eTA (electronic travel authorization) before re-entering Canada. If you then re-enter Canada, you cannot study until the study permit extension application has been approved.
• It is very important to have valid status in Canada. If you do let your study permit expire, you have 90 days after loss of status to apply for restoration of status in Canada with an explanation as to why your status expired, with supporting documentation if applicable. However, you cannot study or work in Canada until your status has been restored.
• Approved study permits are mailed to the Canadian mailing address that you provided in the application form.
• Once you receive your study permit, please check the ‘conditions’ and ‘remarks’ section to ensure that you are authorized to work both on and off campus.  If the work authorizations are missing or it states that you may not work on or off campus, then you should be connecting with one of the immigration consultants to get assistance on applying for a study permit amendment. 
• A valid study permit is required if you are in Canada and taking some online courses. Too many online courses or terms completed outside of Canada could impact post-graduation work permit eligibility or length.
• Study permits become invalid 90 days after you complete your studies unless you've been accepted into further education in Canada. If the expiry date on the study permit is less than 90 days after you complete your studies, the study permit expires on that date.
• You can extend your study permit to remain in Canada for 90 days after you complete your last term. This would allow you to apply for the post-graduation work permit, if eligible. It will also give you more time to extend your study permit again if you're accepted into further education. If there's going to be a term or more between the end of your current program and start of your next, please see our working in Canada page for information on working in between programs.

As of November 8, 2024, post-secondary study permit holders must be enrolled at the DLI that is named on their permit and remain enrolled there until they complete their studies. 

If you are taking an academic program that is jointly offered by more than 1 post-secondary DLI in Canada and results in a credential being issued from each DLI upon program completion, then you must ensure that you hold a valid study permit for each DLI.  For example, in a double degree program in which you are required to attend 2 DLIs, you would need to apply for and receive two study permits.  These permits can be held simultaneously while completing the double degree program.  Each DLI would have to issue an offer of admission and provide a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) in this scenario.

If you are taking an academic program that is jointly offered by more than 1 post-secondary DLI in Canada but results in a single credential, then you would only be required to apply for and receive a study permit for the primary DLI.  The primary DLI would be the one that issues your credential at the end of the joint program.