Canada has recently updated its regulations concerning international students who need to complete a prerequisite course before commencing their main academic program.

A prerequisite course is a mandatory course that students must undertake first if they do not meet the full admission criteria. This is particularly common in English language programs. For instance, a student might be admitted to a bachelor’s degree program on the condition that they successfully finish an ESL course.

According to the new guidelines, immigration officers are now instructed to issue study permits that are valid for the duration of the prerequisite program plus an additional 90 days only. Previously, permits were granted for the length of the course plus an extra year.

Significance of the Changes
If a student completes a four-month ESL course, their study permit will now expire 90 days after the course concludes. This permit will not automatically cover the entire duration of the degree program.

The student will need to apply for a new study permit for their main program before the expiration of the initial one.

Although programs lasting less than six months typically do not necessitate a study permit, immigration authorities advise applying for one if the short course is a prerequisite for a longer program.

Without a study permit for the prerequisite course, the student is usually unable to apply for their subsequent study permit from within Canada. In such cases, they would likely have to depart Canada and reapply from overseas.

Practically speaking, students enrolled in mandatory preparatory courses now have less time available and must plan meticulously to prevent any gaps in their legal status.