Canada has updated its rules for international students who must complete a prerequisite course before starting their main academic program.
A prerequisite is a required course you must take first because you do not yet meet the full admission requirements. This is common with English language programs. For example, a student may be accepted into a bachelor’s degree on the condition that they first complete an ESL course.
Under new instructions, officers are now directed to issue study permits valid for the length of the prerequisite program plus only 90 additional days. Previously, permits were issued for the course length plus one extra year.
Why this matters
If a student completes a four-month ESL course, their study permit will now expire 90 days after that course ends. It will not automatically cover the full degree program.
The student must apply for a new study permit for their main program before the first one expires.
Even though programs under six months normally do not require a study permit, immigration authorities recommend applying for one if the short course is a prerequisite to a longer program.
Without a study permit for the prerequisite course, the student usually cannot apply for their next study permit from inside Canada. They would likely need to leave Canada and apply again from abroad.
In practical terms, students taking required preparatory courses now have less time and must plan carefully to avoid gaps in their legal status.
