When should I apply to extend my study permit?

IRCC generally recommends applying at least 30 days before your current permit expires. Applying before expiry lets you continue studying under maintained status while you wait.

Can I keep studying while IRCC processes my extension?

Yes, if you applied before your permit expired and you stay in Canada, you may continue studying under the same conditions until a decision is made.

What happens if my study permit already expired?

You may be able to apply for restoration of status within the window IRCC allows, paying an additional fee, and you must stop studying until status is restored. Speak with an RCIC or immigration lawyer if you are in this situation.

Do I use IMM 5709 for a post-graduation work permit?

No. A post-graduation work permit is a work permit, so in-Canada applicants use Form IMM 5710, the worker version of this application.

Immigration

IRCC Form IMM 5709: Fillable PDF

Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada as a Student

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Extend or change a study permit from inside Canada.

Reviewed July 2026

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How it works

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Download the form. Save the official PDF to your device.
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Open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader and fill in each field. Browsers show a placeholder page for this form type.
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Save and submit the completed form following the official instructions.

Form IMM 5709, Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada as a Student, is the form international students inside Canada use to extend a study permit or change its conditions, such as switching schools or programs where a new permit is required. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processes these applications from within Canada.

IMM 5709 is a dynamic XFA PDF, so a browser will only show a placeholder page. Download the form from this page, save it to your computer, and complete it in Adobe Acrobat Reader on a desktop computer. This guide explains who files it, what each section covers, and how to protect your status while you wait.

What is IMM 5709 used for

Students use IMM 5709 to ask for more time on a study permit, to change conditions attached to the permit, or in some cases to obtain a first study permit from inside Canada when they are eligible to apply from within the country.

The most common scenario is a straightforward extension: your program is taking longer than expected, or you are continuing to a new program, and your current permit expires before you finish.

Who files IMM 5709

Students physically in Canada file this form. Applicants outside Canada use Form IMM 1294 instead.

Study permit holders whose permit expires before they complete their program.
Students moving to a new designated learning institution or level of study where their permit conditions need updating.
Eligible in-Canada applicants applying for an initial study permit, such as some minor children already attending school.
Each applicant files individually; accompanying family members with their own status needs use the visitor or worker versions of the form.

How to fill out IMM 5709

Work through the downloaded form in Adobe Acrobat Reader, answering every mandatory question. The form reveals additional fields depending on your answers.

Click Validate when you are done. Validation checks for gaps and generates the barcode pages IRCC needs; fix any flagged fields and validate again until it succeeds.

Personal details and current immigration status, including your existing permit number and expiry date.
Details of intended study: your school, DLI number, program, expected completion date, and tuition and living costs.
Funds: how you will continue to support yourself, which should match your bank or sponsorship evidence.
Education, employment, and the standard background questions on health, criminal history, and prior refusals.

Filing tips

Apply before your current permit expires so you benefit from maintained status and can keep studying under your existing conditions while IRCC decides. Applications go through the IRCC online account; check the current fee on the IRCC fee list first.

IRCC forms are version-pinned; confirm you have the current version of IMM 5709 on the official page before submitting.
Include an up-to-date enrolment letter or letter of acceptance from your DLI.
Keep your passport valid well past your requested extension date, since a permit cannot outlast your passport.
If your permit has already expired or you have been out of study, restoration rules are strict; consult a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer promptly.

Frequently asked questions

IMM 5709 is a dynamic XFA PDF that browsers cannot display. Save the file locally and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader on Windows or macOS to load the full form.

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