If you are starting a Master’s or PhD program at SFU, you do not need a PAL when applying for a study permit on or after January 1, 2026. Further details are available on IRCC's graduate student website.

Note: Applications submitted before January 1, 2026, must still include a valid PAL. Learn how to receive your SFU PAL.

Faster Processing for Doctoral Students

PhD students and their accompanying family members applying from outside of Canada may qualify for expedited study permit processing, if they apply within the same application. Applications may still be subject to background checks, which may delay processing times.

Graduate Student Resources

IRCC has launched a new webpage, Life as a Graduate Student to help prepare yourself for life in Canada by learning about housing options, study costs, employment opportunities, and more.

If you are in Canada and applying to extend your SFU study permit to continue at the same designated learning institution (DLI) and the same level of study, you do not require a PAL. 

Examples of this scenario include:

• SFU students continuing a Bachelor’s degree;
• SFU students continuing a graduate degree program (i.e. Master’s and PhD degree);
• SFU students transitioning from a Master’s degree to a PhD degree.

If your study permit will be expiring soon, please review our instruction guides below for step-by-step information about the application process and documents required. 

• Study Permit Extension Instruction Guide 1 
• Study Permit Extension Instruction Guide 2 
• Study Permit Extension Proof of PAL Exemption: Current SFU students 

A valid PAL is required at the time of your study permit application. For information about how you will receive your PAL, visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage.

While you are waiting for the PAL, you can start preparing your study permit application and gather applicable supporting documents. This way, your application will be ready to submit once you receive your PAL.

• Visit our website for information about applying for a study permit from outside Canada.
• Visit the IRCC website for information about documents required in a study permit application.

If you are transferring from another designated learning institution (DLI), you must have your SFU study permit approved before you can begin your studies.

Important: Eligible high school students may begin their studies at SFU while their SFU study permit extension application is being processed by IRCC, if they meet certain criteria.

If you are transferring to SFU as an undergraduate student, you must include a PAL in your study permit application.  

• If you are applying in Canada, and you are an existing study permit holder, you should follow the instructions to apply for a study permit extension. Please include your SFU letter of acceptance (LOA).
• If you are applying outside Canada, you should follow the instructions for an outside Canada study permit application. Please include your SFU letter of acceptance (LOA).

For information about how you will receive your PAL, visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage.

If your application was refused and you are not PAL-exempt, you will need a new PAL to reapply. Please visit our website for information about what you can do if your study permit application is refused.

If you are in Canada and applying to extend your SFU study permit to continue at the same designated learning institution (DLI) and the same level of study, you do not require a PAL. 

Examples of this scenario include:

• SFU students continuing a Bachelor’s degree;
• SFU students continuing a graduate degree program (i.e. Master’s and PhD degree);
• SFU students transitioning from a Master’s degree to a PhD degree.

If your study permit will be expiring soon, please review our instruction guides below for step-by-step information about the application process and documents required. 

• Study Permit Extension Instruction Guide 1 
• Study Permit Extension Instruction Guide 2 
• Study Permit Extension Proof of PAL Exemption: Current SFU students 

If you are in Canada and applying to extend your SFU study permit for studies at the same designated learning institution (DLI) but a different level of study, you will be PAL exempt starting January 1, 2026. 

Examples of this scenario include:

• SFU students moving from Bachelor's degree to Master's degree;
• SFU students moving from a graduate certificate or diploma to Master's degree.

Please review our instruction guides below for step-by-step information about the study permit extension application process and documents required. 

• Study Permit Extension Instruction Guide 1 
• Study Permit Extension Instruction Guide 2

You will require a PAL to apply for a new study permit from outside Canada. 

• Visit our website for information about applying for a study permit from outside Canada.
• Visit the IRCC website for information about documents required in a study permit application.

For information about how you will receive your PAL, visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage.

If you are studying at SFU, you are required to have a valid study permit at all times.  This means you are required to apply to extend your study permit before it expires.  If your study permit expires, and you did not apply to extend it before it expired, you will lose your student status.  You may be able to apply to restore your student status in Canada within 90 days of losing your status. For information about how to apply to restore your student status in Canada, visit the IRCC website. 

If you will be applying to restore your student status from within Canada as an undergraduate student you will require a PAL. Please contact a SFU International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist for more information.

If you have been away from your SFU studies for 3 or more consecutive terms, and you wish to resume your studies at SFU, you may need to apply for reactivation or readmission to return to SFU, depending on your situation.

i To resume your studies at SFU, you must apply and be approved for a new SFU study permit.  Prior to submitting your reactivation request, you should check IRCC's processing times and familiarize yourself with the study permit application process to ensure you have sufficient time to have your new study permit approved. We recommend submitting your reactivation request at least 4 months prior to your reactivated term (i.e. the term when you request to be reactivated and resume your studies at SFU). 

Reactivation

If you will be applying for reactivation,  please visit our FAQ page to learn about how to obtain a PAL. 

Readmission

If you are required to apply for readmission to SFU, visit the SFU Admissions website for more information about important deadlines.

Exchange students who will be studying at SFU for more than 6 months require a study permit. As an exchange student, you are PAL exempt if you meet the following requirements: 

1. You are studying under an exchange arrangement between your home institution and SFU; and
2. You do not pay tuition fees to SFU.

Note: Students coming to SFU under Study Abroad, and who pay tuition to SFU, require a PAL to apply for a study permit. 

Undergraduate and graduate Visiting Research Students (VRS) who will be applying for a study permit require a PAL. 

Not all VRS require a study permit. The appropriate immigration document(s) for a VRS visit depend several factors including length of visit, funding arrangements, and the scope of research activity.