Dear future neighbour,
On June 18, 2026, IRCC updated its internal compliance guidelines for study permit holders. No big announcement, no press release, just a quiet but significant policy shift that is already in effect for all international students in Canada.
If you’re studying here, planning to, or helping someone who is, this affects you.
The core of what changed comes down to four things: school transfers, program changes, your official graduation date, and working during a leave. This is what you need to understand.
Switching schools is no longer a simple process
Since November 8, 2024, any student whose study permit names a specific school must apply for a brand new study permit before transferring to a different institution. The old online feature that let students update their DLI through their IRCC account was removed in November 2024, it no longer exists.
What the June 18, 2026 update makes crystal clear is the consequence of ignoring this: if you transferred schools without first getting a new permit, your original study permit is now invalid. You would be considered to be studying without authorization which is a serious compliance breach.
| Before June 18, 2026 | After June 18, 2026 |
|---|---|
| No clear section explaining the consequence of an unauthorized school transfer | Transferring without a new study permit application renders your existing permit invalid |
| Online DLI update tool previously available | Tool removed since November 2024; formal application now required |
Students with older permits issued before November 2024 that don’t name a specific school are in a slightly different position. Officers reviewing those cases are instructed to check whether the permit conditions actually prohibited a transfer before making any non-compliance finding. Still, those students should apply for a new permit when changing schools and must do so before their current permit expires.
Changing programs at the same school has new limits
Previously, switching programs within the same institution was generally fine as long as your permit conditions didn’t say otherwise. The June update adds four words that change everything: “at the same level of study.”
Moving from a diploma to a degree, or from an undergraduate to a graduate program; even at the same school, may now require a new study permit. This matters especially for students building toward a Post-Graduation Work Permit, since PGWP eligibility and duration are tied to the credential level you actually complete.
If you’ve already made a level change at your current school without applying for a new permit, check your compliance status now.
Your graduation date is now officially defined
This one catches a lot of students off guard. Many assume their completion date is their last exam or their convocation ceremony. Under the updated rules, your studies are officially complete on the date your school first notifies you in writing, whichever of these comes first:
| Document | What Counts |
|---|---|
| Completion Letter | Date on the letter from your DLI confirming program completion |
| Final Transcript | Date on the transcript showing all requirements met |
| Degree or Diploma | Date stated on the credential itself |
This matters because your 180-day PGWP application window starts from that date. If that document arrived earlier than you realised, your window may already be counting down.
No work during a leave – No Exceptions
IRCC has simplified and tightened the rules around working during a study leave into one clear statement: if you are not attending classes full-time, you cannot work. On-campus, off-campus, or co-op placement; none of it is permitted during any leave from studies, including leaves caused by a school closure.
On a more protective note, the update also confirms that students caught in a school closure are considered to be in compliance during the 150-day transition window while they arrange their next steps. This is a welcome clarification given the number of private DLIs that have recently lost their designation across Canada.
This is a quick summary of all the major changes
| Change | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Unauthorized school transfers | Your permit becomes invalid if you transfer without applying for a new one first |
| Program level changes at the same DLI | Switching credential levels may now require a new study permit |
| Official completion date | Starts from the first written notification from your school, not your exam or graduation ceremony |
| Working during a leave | No work of any kind permitted during a leave, including co-op placements |
| School closure compliance | Students are explicitly in compliance during the 150-day transition window |
| Three guidance sections removed | Change of Status, C42 spouse work permits, and children-of-student guidance deleted from the compliance page; seek professional advice if these apply to you |
Don’t leave your Study Permit Status to chance
These changes are already in effect, and the consequences of getting it wrong are too serious to ignore either by an invalidated permit, unauthorized study status or lost PGWP eligibility. If you’re unsure whether a school transfer, program change, or upcoming graduation affects your compliance, now is the time to get clarity.
At Ese Umoh Immigration, we work with international students at every stage: from study permits and postgraduate work permits to Express Entry, provincial nomination, spousal sponsorship, visitor and super visas, citizenship applications, and school admissions. Let’s make sure your Canadian journey stays on track.