International students who come to Canada for language training or other prerequisite studies before starting a full academic program will now receive a shorter initial study permit. IRCC guidance published February 23, 2026, states that permits will cover the length of the prerequisite course plus only 90 days—replacing the previous practice of adding an extra year.
The policy aims to align permit validity with actual study plans and curb situations where students linger in Canada without progressing to their main program. After finishing the prerequisite, students must submit a new application—ideally from within Canada—to extend or change their permit for the principal program of study. Maintained status will apply if they file before the initial permit expires.
Students navigating this two-step process don’t have to do it alone. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) provides guided checklists, document reviews and deadline reminders tailored to Canadian study-permit rules, helping applicants compile both their initial and subsequent applications with confidence and less stress.
![Canada Shortens Initial Study Permits for Students Taking Prerequisite Courses]()
Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) and pathway providers must now adjust intakes and advising sessions. They must ensure that admission letters, fee schedules and orientation materials highlight the compressed timeline and the need for a timely second application. Failure to plan could leave students out of status and ineligible for work on-campus or co-op placements.
Education-sector HR teams dealing with graduate teaching assistants or research interns arriving via prerequisite ESL pathways should closely monitor expiry dates. Likewise, employers offering part-time roles to pathway students will need to re-verify work eligibility more frequently.
Ultimately, the move fits Ottawa’s broader agenda of tightening temporary-resident programs to manage backlogs and housing pressure, while still allowing bona fide students to transition smoothly into long-term study and potential post-graduation work.
The policy aims to align permit validity with actual study plans and curb situations where students linger in Canada without progressing to their main program. After finishing the prerequisite, students must submit a new application—ideally from within Canada—to extend or change their permit for the principal program of study. Maintained status will apply if they file before the initial permit expires.
Students navigating this two-step process don’t have to do it alone. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) provides guided checklists, document reviews and deadline reminders tailored to Canadian study-permit rules, helping applicants compile both their initial and subsequent applications with confidence and less stress.
Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) and pathway providers must now adjust intakes and advising sessions. They must ensure that admission letters, fee schedules and orientation materials highlight the compressed timeline and the need for a timely second application. Failure to plan could leave students out of status and ineligible for work on-campus or co-op placements.
Education-sector HR teams dealing with graduate teaching assistants or research interns arriving via prerequisite ESL pathways should closely monitor expiry dates. Likewise, employers offering part-time roles to pathway students will need to re-verify work eligibility more frequently.
Ultimately, the move fits Ottawa’s broader agenda of tightening temporary-resident programs to manage backlogs and housing pressure, while still allowing bona fide students to transition smoothly into long-term study and potential post-graduation work.
