Key Takeaways
• From May 1, 2025, international students in Canada must get a new study permit before switching schools.
• Exceptions apply only if the previous school closed or lost its designated status; most transfers require new approval.
• Violating the rule risks permit cancellation, removal from Canada, or future study/work permit rejection.
On May 1, 2025, Canada 🇨🇦 officially put into action a new rule that affects thousands of international students studying in the country. The new law requires international students to get a new study permit before switching schools. This move is part of Canada’s wider plan to keep strong controls over its International Student Program and manage the number of international students in the country.
Before this date, students could change schools simply by updating their information online. Now, the steps are stricter, and those who do not follow the process may face serious trouble with their legal status in Canada 🇨🇦. This article breaks down what has changed, why the rule was introduced, who is affected, and what students and their families need to know. It also goes into the history behind the rule, the exceptions, and the possible impact for everyone involved.
What Changed on May 1, 2025?
As of this date, most international students in Canada 🇨🇦 must wait for approval of a new study permit before they can start studying at a new school, college, or university. This rule covers not only changing colleges and universities, but also moves from secondary to post-secondary studies and vice versa. The Canadian government points out that these new measures replace earlier, easier steps that allowed students to simply update their institution information on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
The end of interim measures is important. Between November 2024 and April 30, 2025, certain exceptions allowed students more flexibility when changing schools, but these interim steps have now ended. The new process is stricter and part of Canada 🇨🇦’s ongoing efforts to protect the reputation of both its schools and its immigration programs.
When a New Study Permit Is Needed
- You want to change from one Designated Learning Institution (DLI) to another after high school.
- You are moving from high school to college or university.
- You want to go from college or university back to high school.
- You are changing schools inside Quebec, where you must also update your Quebec Acceptance Certificate.
A DLI is a school in Canada 🇨🇦 approved to host international students. The IRCC keeps an official list of all Designated Learning Institutions in the country.
When a New Study Permit Is Not Needed
- You change programs but stay at the same DLI.
- You move from elementary to high school, unless your current permit has specific restrictions.
If you are not sure whether your situation needs a new permit, you can check the official IRCC page about changing schools as an international student.
Background and Reasons for the Change
This new rule is more than just a paperwork change. It is a policy shift meant to strengthen the quality control of Canada’s international education system. According to IRCC, from before November 2024, the old process allowed students to switch schools just by notifying the government online. Authorities worried that this process was too loose and could hurt the program’s reputation if schools and students didn’t meet proper standards.
In November 2024, the government first announced new rules that made it mandatory for most students to get permission before moving to a new school. However, for a short time until April 30, 2025, students could still sometimes use the older, easier process under “interim measures”. Now, as of May 1, 2025, those easier rules are gone; the new, stricter approach is permanent.
IRCC says this change is part of a broader strategy to make sure international students are following the rules and to keep the program fair. With the rising number of international students applying to come to Canada 🇨🇦, the government also wants schools to stay accountable for the students they accept. These stricter steps make it harder for students who are not serious about studying to come to Canada 🇨🇦 using the study permit as an entry path, only to not attend school or break permit rules.
According to analysis from VisaVerge.com, this tightening reflects bigger moves by Canadian authorities to keep everything fair and stop misuse of the system.
Impact on Different Groups
For International Students
This new rule brings a big change to how easily students can change their academic plans in Canada 🇨🇦. It can affect their study timeline, put student status at risk, and even put their futures in Canada 🇨🇦 on hold if rules are not followed closely. Students who want to move from high school to university, or from university to another college, now have to be extra careful, as not having the right permit can stop them from starting or continuing their course of study.
Students should keep in mind:
– They cannot start classes at the new DLI until approval comes through.
– If they do not wait for approval, they risk having their study permit canceled or facing removal from Canada 🇨🇦.
For Schools and Post-Secondary Institutions
Schools now must pay closer attention to who is registered. If a student leaves without permission from IRCC, the school may have to report the student as “not registered.” This counts as a violation of study permit conditions by the student.
Designated Learning Institutions must also stay up to date with these changes so they can help their international students follow every step correctly.
For Families
Families supporting students in Canada 🇨🇦 will need to plan better. School switches can now take longer and may involve more paperwork and waiting. Planning moves in advance and keeping all paperwork ready is more important than ever before.
For Immigration and Legal Professionals
The new rule will likely lead to more requests for advice from lawyers and consultants, especially when students are unsure of their next steps or face problems during school changes.
Consequences If You Don’t Follow the New Rule
The government made it clear: if an international student changes schools without waiting for the new permit approval, they may:
– See their study permit become invalid,
– Have their permit canceled,
– Be asked to leave Canada 🇨🇦,
– Or face trouble when applying for new study or work permits in the future.
Further, if IRCC learns a student has left their former school without following the rules, the student could be marked as “out of status,” which can harm future plans in Canada 🇨🇦.
Timeline of the Policy Change
- Before November 2024: Students could switch DLIs by simply telling IRCC online.
- November 8, 2024: New rules began—most international students needed a new permit before moving to a new school, but some interim exceptions started.
- November 2024 – April 30, 2025: “Interim measures” meant some transfers were still allowed under the old rules.
- May 1, 2025: New, strict policy went into full effect and the interim measures stopped.
Limited Exceptions
There are a few cases where the government will let a student begin new studies while waiting for their new study permit, but these are rare. These exceptions include:
– The student’s old school closed,
– The program at the old DLI was canceled,
– The old DLI was put on a government suspension list,
– The old DLI lost its “designated” status.
Students in these situations must:
– Stay in Canada 🇨🇦 since getting their new school’s letter of acceptance,
– Keep following all the rules of their old study permit,
– Provide proof if asked by the government.
For everyone else, there is no shortcut. Strict following of the new steps is required unless you clearly meet the exception list above.
Recent Caps and Broader Policy Goals
This policy did not develop alone. In 2025, Canada 🇨🇦 announced a countrywide cap—only 550,162 study permit applications for the whole year. This shows that Canada 🇨🇦 is getting serious about making sure that international students are truly coming for school and not just for other reasons.
According to experts and government officials, each step helps protect students and Canada’s education system from being misused by those who may not plan to study.
Comparison With the Older System
Before these changes, Canada’s system was considered fairly open for school transfers. A student could move schools and just update their record with IRCC. Now, students face a waiting period, more paperwork, and more checks. The new system is closer to those in countries that also manage international students tightly. The shift means that Canada 🇨🇦 no longer allows quick, easy changes between schools without review.
Controversies and Debates
There has been some debate around whether these changes are too restrictive. Some education groups say that the extra wait times may discourage good students from choosing Canada 🇨🇦, as more paperwork and slower transfers can disrupt studies. On the other hand, government officials argue that without these controls, it would be too easy for people to misuse the study permit process for reasons other than education.
Legal experts say that the new rules give officials more ability to monitor students’ status, but warn that some students could get caught in the middle without meaning to break rules. They recommend students pay very close attention to timelines and paperwork and seek legal advice when uncertain.
Common Questions
Do I need to leave Canada 🇨🇦 while waiting for my new study permit if I change schools?
No. As long as you stay in legal status and follow the rules, you do not have to leave while waiting for a permit if you meet one of the exceptions. But you may not start at a new school until permission is granted, unless your old DLI closed, your program was canceled, or your DLI lost recognition.
What if my program in Canada 🇨🇦 is shut down?
If the school or program is shut down, you may qualify for a temporary exception—allowing you to enroll at a new school while your new permit is being processed.
How long does it take to get a new study permit in Canada 🇨🇦?
Processing times can vary. Because of the cap and likely higher number of applications under this strict process, it could take several weeks or longer.
Can I change universities mid-semester in Canada 🇨🇦 under these new rules?
No. You must receive your new permit before starting at a new school, even if it is mid-semester.
Steps for Students to Stay Compliant
- Plan early if you might want to change schools in Canada 🇨🇦.
- Apply for a new study permit through the official IRCC website as soon as you decide to transfer.
- Wait for approval before leaving your old school and starting studies at the new school.
- Keep proof of communication, acceptance letters, and applications.
- Contact your school’s international student advisor for help or a legal expert if you have questions.
Summary and Next Steps
In summary, in 2025, Canada 🇨🇦 changed the way international students can change schools within the country. The new law means more checks and a longer process, which aims to keep the system healthy, stop misuse, and make sure only real, active students get to study in Canada 🇨🇦. Anyone thinking of transferring should be very careful to follow the new steps and keep all important documents. Schools, families, and legal advisors should stay ready to help with these changes, as doing the process wrong can have serious, long-lasting effects. For details on which forms you need or steps to follow, always check the IRCC’s official change schools guide.
This information is for general guidance only. Laws and rules can change fast. Always talk to an authorized legal or immigration professional in Canada 🇨🇦 about your specific case before making important decisions.
Learn Today
Designated Learning Institution (DLI) → A Canadian school authorized to host international students; every DLI has a government-assigned number listed by IRCC.
Study Permit → A document issued by IRCC allowing a foreign national to study at designated educational institutions in Canada legally.
Interim Measures → Temporary transitional rules that allowed continued use of former, easier student transfer procedures until April 30, 2025.
Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) → A document required by international students wishing to study in the province of Quebec, in addition to a study permit.
Out of Status → An immigration term indicating a person has lost their legal right to remain in Canada due to non-compliance with visa rules.
This Article in a Nutshell
Canada’s new rule, active May 1, 2025, requires international students to obtain a new study permit when transferring schools. The change closes previous loopholes, increasing paperwork and waiting periods. Not complying risks legal status and future permits, so early planning and strict adherence to process are essential for international students and families.
— By VisaVerge.com
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