The study permit approval letter is officially called the port of entry (POE) letter of introduction. It can also be called a POE letter, correspondence letter, introduction letter or introductory letter. 

The POE letter is an important document that indicates that your study permit application has been initially approved by the IRCC. Although it is not your actual study permit, you must present this letter to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer when you enter Canada. Upon review and approval by the CBSA officer, you will be issued your study permit and, if applicable, a co-op work permit. It's crucial to remember that you should not leave without obtaining your study permit and co-op work permit (if applicable). 

International students are responsible for maintaining valid immigration status and adhering to IRCC regulations while studying in Canada. As a study permit holder, you must comply with your study permit conditions in Canada. Failure to comply may result in loss of your status and departure from Canada.  

At VCC, to actively pursue studies, an international student must: 

• be enrolled in each academic semester, excluding regularly scheduled breaks.  
• Make progress towards completing your program’s courses, and  
• Not take authorized leaves longer than 150 days from your study program.  

Please visit How to Maintain a Valid Immigration Status in Canada to learn more. 

VCC requires international students accepted into a program to submit their study permit or study permit approval (port of entry POE letter of introduction) by the study permit deadline. International students are responsible for maintaining their status in Canada to ensure their study permit is valid before starting a program and while studying at VCC. 

After you arrive in Canada, please kindly upload a copy of your study/work permit(s) to your myVCC account: Tutorial - How to Upload Document in myVCC.

• A copy of your study permit (or study permit extension document) 
• A copy of your co-op work permit (if applicable) 

If you extended your study permit while studying at VCC, please kindly upload a copy of your study/work permit(s) to your myVCC account: Tutorial - How to Upload Document in myVCC.

A study permit is usually valid for the length of your program of studies, plus an additional 90 days. A study permit becomes invalid upon the occurrence of any of the following:  

• Based on the expiry date written on the study permit, OR 
• 90 days after written confirmation of program completion, OR 
• The day on which a removal order made against the permit holder becomes enforceable. 

International students must maintain valid status throughout their stay in Canada. It is advisable to apply for a study permit extension six months before the expiry date if there is insufficient coverage for program completion or graduation audit period (up to 6 weeks). Please read the “Apply for a Study Permit Extension from inside Canada” section below for more details. 

Failure to apply for a study permit extension before expiry results one to become out-of-status, requiring immediate cessation of studies. Note that the IRCC online application system operates on coordinated universal time (UTC) and not Pacific Standard Time (PST). As such, your application must be submitted before midnight UTC on the specified date. If your study permit has expired and you did not submit a study permit extension application to IRCC, please contact the IE office immediately at ieservices@vcc.ca so that we can assist you. 

If you will apply for your study permit from outside Canada, it is strongly recommended that you also submit your co-op work permit application if your program requires practicum experience at the same time by using your VCC Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) issued to you upon program acceptance. If your program requires practicum work experience, your LOA will have all the necessary information about the practicum component, and you should apply for your co-op work permit with your study permit application. 

When you apply for a study permit and indicate that you want to study while you are currently outside Canada, the system will assume that you want to come to Canada as a student on a study permit. During the application process, you will be asked if work is an essential component of your studies. Please only answer 'yes' if your program requires practicum experience. 

Once you have completed answering all the questions in the online wizard, you will receive a customized document checklist. The checklist will ask you to upload your 'Letter of Acceptance' and 'Evidence of Work Requirement in Study,' if you have indicated that you have practicum experience. Please make sure to upload your VCC LOA in both sections of the checklist. 

Once your application is approved, your port of entry (POE) letter of introduction will contain the information about your study permit and co-op work permit (if applicable). Once you present the POE letter to the CBSA officer upon entry into Canada, they may issue your study permit and co-op work permit documents (if applicable) at the same time. Before leaving, carefully review the documents to verify if all information, including your personal information as well as conditions, is correct. 

If you are enrolled in a program eligible for off-campus work, you must have one of the following conditions printed on your study permit: 

• may work 20 hours per week off campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in paragraph 186(v) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. 
• may accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria, per paragraph R186(f), (v) or (w) and must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria. 

If you plan to apply for a study permit through a paper application, read the instruction guide for the country from where you intend to submit your application. Once you select your country, the system will generate a list of forms and documents you need to submit along with your application. After completing the necessary forms and gathering all the required documents, you can submit your application package by mail, including the fee receipt to the address provided by IRCC. 

Usually, you must apply for your first study permit before coming to Canada. Only some foreign nationals may be eligible to apply for a new study permit from inside Canada. Those foreign nationals must meet the criteria to apply after entry, as per IRPR section R215. Please visit Study permits: Making an application to learn more. 

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you may apply for a new study permit from inside Canada. Once at the Study permit: How to apply page, scroll down to ‘Get specific instructions on how to apply’ and select ‘inside Canada’. Read and ensure you meet the criteria to apply from inside Canada and click ‘yes’. Then, the system will generate the instructions for you to submit your application. 

We encourage you to review Guide 5552 - Applying to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada for instructions. 

If you are not eligible to apply for a new study permit from inside Canada as per IRPR section R215, you must follow the instructions for applying for a study permit from outside Canada even if you are physically in Canada.  

In the IRCC online tools, choose your country of citizenship when you are asked for your current country or territory of residence. This is to make sure you get the correct application forms. However, your answers must be accurate when completing pdf forms. For example, if you are in Canada, use your Canadian address.  
 

International students must maintain valid status throughout their stay in Canada. Ensure not to let your study permit expire while you are studying at VCC and extend it if your study permit expires before completing your program. It is advisable to initiate the extension process six months before the expiry to maintain your valid status in Canada. Additionally, ensure your passport is valid long enough to allow the extension of your status in Canada, as IRCC cannot issue a permit beyond the expiration date of your passport.  

Considering the graduation audit period (up to 6 weeks), it is recommended to apply for a study permit extension if there is insufficient coverage for this period after the completion of your program. Note that the IRCC online application system operates on coordinated universal time (UTC) and not Pacific Standard Time (PST). As such, your application must be submitted before midnight UTC on the specified date. 

For a study permit extension, request a VCC study permit extension letter and select ‘yes’ to the co-op work permit question only if your program requires practicum experience and you cannot complete your practicum training before the expiry of your co-op work permit. 

Failure to apply for a study permit extension before expiry results in one becoming out-of-status , requiring immediate cessation of studies. Restoration of status may be sought within 90 days of losing it. You may return to your program of studies only after your new application for restoration is approved. If this applies to you, please email ieservices@vcc.ca to book an appointment so that we can assist you. 

When you apply to extend your study permit and indicate that you would like to ‘study’ and that your current immigration status in Canada is ‘student,’ the system will understand that you want to apply for a study permit extension in Canada. During the application process, the system will ask if ‘you also want to apply for a work permit.’ Please answer ‘yes’ only if your program requires practicum experience. 

You do not need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) to apply for a study permit extension. To ensure the correct Document Checklist is triggered when applying for a study permit extension, follow these steps:  

1. Respond ‘No’ when asked if you have a PAL. 
2. Answer ‘Yes’ when asked about qualifying for an exception. 
3. Depending on your nationality, the system may ask which exception you qualify for:
   • If you are a single student or the main applicant of the family, select “I am an applicant applying within Canada as described under section 215(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).”
   • If you are a family member of the main applicant eligible under section 215(2), choose “I am a family member of a foreign national in Canada as described under section 215(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).” 

After answering all the questions from the wizard, you will be provided with a personalized document checklist. If the document checklist requests a PAL upload when applying for a study permit extension, it is because these questions weren't answered correctly.  

The checklist will require you to upload your ‘Letter of Acceptance (Letter of Enrolment/Registration)’ and a ‘Co-op Letter’ (if applicable). Please upload the VCC Study Permit Extension Letter and Co-op Work Permit Letter (if applicable) accordingly. 

Once you've submitted your application, you'll receive a confirmation PDF document in your secure IRCC account. Upon approval, another PDF will indicate that your original documents are on their way to the address you provided. It's crucial to double-check your address accuracy during submission. If you happen to move, remember to update your address via the IRCC webform promptly through the IRCC webform. 

Please review the following documents for instructions on how to submit a study permit extension application online from inside Canada: 

• How to Create your IRCC Secure Account 
• Study Permit Extension - Instruction Guide
• Additional Resources 
• Need help? Book a 15-minute Immigration Advising appointment. 

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you may apply for a new study permit at the port of entry. Follow the instructions as if you were submitting a paper application. Read the instruction guide based on your country for a complete list of required documents. Ensure you have all the necessary documents to provide to the CBSA officer at the port of entry. 

You’ll meet a CBSA officer when you arrive in Canada. The officer will: 

• ask to see your passport or travel documents, 
• check if your medical exam is valid (if applicable), 
• ask you a few questions, and 
• verify if you meet the eligibility requirements to apply for a study permit at the port of entry. 

It's important to note that entry into Canada is subject to the discretion of a CBSA officer. Upon your arrival at a Canadian port of entry, the CBSA officer will thoroughly review all your supporting documents. They will then make a determination regarding your eligibility to enter Canada. Additionally, they must be satisfied that you meet the entry requirements and intend to depart Canada at the end of your authorized stay.  

If you submit a study permit application to IRCC and decide to change your designated learning institution (DLI) before coming to Canada, you must inform IRCC of this change. 

• If your application is still in progress, you must submit your new Letter of Acceptance (LOA) using the IRCC webform. 
• If your application has already been approved, you will need to submit a new study permit application along with the updated Letter of Acceptance (LOA). 

If you have a valid study permit from a different designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada and change your school to VCC, please remember to change your post-secondary school in your account. 

Ensure you have your previous DLI Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and VCC Letter of Acceptance (LOA) to submit your request online. The dates indicated on the form need to match the dates on those letters; otherwise, your request won’t go through. 

If your VCC program requires practicum experience, you will need to apply for a new co-op work permit unless you have a valid open work permit. Your co-op work permit should list “Vancouver Community College” as your employer. 

If you transition from a high school in Canada to VCC and your study permit remains valid, you can apply to extend it when you move to the next education level, such as transitioning from high school to post-secondary. However, upon high school graduation, your current study permit will become invalid either on its expiry date or within 90 days of receiving the program completion letter (Section R222), whichever comes first, if you don't plan to study within 150 days. Therefore, it's crucial to extend your study permit before it expires to maintain your legal status in Canada. Alternatively, you can enroll in another program that will start within 150 days of the last day of your class to remain compliant with immigration regulations.  

Please note that you may not be eligible to work until you receive your new study permit with conditions that allow on and off-campus work. However, you can continue your studies as long as your study permit is valid and/or you are under maintained status. If your VCC program requires practicum experience, you will need to apply for a co-op work permit simultaneously when you apply to extend your study permit. 

In British Columbia, international students under 19 years of age are considered minor children. Therefore, you may need to have a custodian when you apply for a study permit. Please visit Studying in Canada as a minor to learn more. 

If your immigration document (study permit, work permit, or TRV) is lost or stolen, file a police report. Then, you should Apply for a Replacement of an Immigration Document. Follow the instructions from the Instruction Guide [IMM 5545]. 
 
In case your passport with a valid TRV is lost or stolen, your first step should be to file a police report. Then, contact your country's embassy or consulate to obtain the replacement passport. After securing the new passport, you can proceed with applying for a new TRV. Remember to include a letter of explanation with your application, detailing the police report number and providing reasons for the reapplication. 

You may be able to leave and return to Canada as long as your visa to enter Canada - eTA and TRV is still valid. If your visitor visa or eTA is expired, you must apply for and receive a new one before you leave. Please visit the IRCC Help Centre to learn more. 

The Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have created a Voluntary Compliance Portal (VC Portal). The VC Portal allows international students to submit their arrival information in advance to the CBSA officer to expedite the issuance of a study permit at the airport. 

To be eligible to submit their information in advance, international students must: 

• Have Vancouver International Airport as their first port of entry in Canada 
• Have a study permit approval letter - port of entry (POE) letter of introduction. 
• Submit all required information at least 72 hours before arriving at YVR. 

Using the VC Portal is entirely optional, and it will only be used to expedite the process. If you submit incorrect information, you can submit a new form. Please note that entry to Canada is at the discretion of a CBSA officer.