International students coming to Canada for short prerequisite courses—such as English or math upgrading—will receive a study permit valid only for the length of the course plus 90 days, rather than the previous one-year buffer, under guidance published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on 22 February. The Economic Times first reported the change after IRCC updated its online program delivery instructions.
The policy affects thousands of pathway students who complete language or foundation programmes before progressing to college or university. Under the old rules, officers routinely issued permits covering the prerequisite plus an extra year, giving students time to apply for a new permit inside Canada. The 90-day cap means students must file their follow-on permit application much sooner—or risk falling out of status.
Designated learning institutions (DLIs) will need to coordinate admission letters and start dates more tightly to avoid gaps. Immigration lawyers advise students to prepare the second application in advance and budget for additional biometrics or medical exams that may be required.
![Study-permit window for prerequisite programs cut to 90 days, IRCC clarifies]()
For students feeling uncertain about the tighter timelines, VisaHQ’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) can simplify the process. The platform provides up-to-date checklists, document review and personalized reminders for both the initial short-course permit and the follow-on study-permit application, helping applicants avoid costly delays or status lapses.
The change is widely viewed as part of Ottawa’s broader effort to curb fraud and manage ballooning study-permit inventories after record international-student intakes in 2024-25. Colleges that rely on prerequisite pathway programmes should revisit orientation materials and ensure recruiters accurately explain the shorter validity period.
For employers that hire co-op or post-graduation talent, the rule may modestly delay the pipeline of students transitioning to work permits in late 2026, but is unlikely to affect longer-term labour supply.
The policy affects thousands of pathway students who complete language or foundation programmes before progressing to college or university. Under the old rules, officers routinely issued permits covering the prerequisite plus an extra year, giving students time to apply for a new permit inside Canada. The 90-day cap means students must file their follow-on permit application much sooner—or risk falling out of status.
Designated learning institutions (DLIs) will need to coordinate admission letters and start dates more tightly to avoid gaps. Immigration lawyers advise students to prepare the second application in advance and budget for additional biometrics or medical exams that may be required.
For students feeling uncertain about the tighter timelines, VisaHQ’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) can simplify the process. The platform provides up-to-date checklists, document review and personalized reminders for both the initial short-course permit and the follow-on study-permit application, helping applicants avoid costly delays or status lapses.
The change is widely viewed as part of Ottawa’s broader effort to curb fraud and manage ballooning study-permit inventories after record international-student intakes in 2024-25. Colleges that rely on prerequisite pathway programmes should revisit orientation materials and ensure recruiters accurately explain the shorter validity period.
For employers that hire co-op or post-graduation talent, the rule may modestly delay the pipeline of students transitioning to work permits in late 2026, but is unlikely to affect longer-term labour supply.
