What to do if your study permit application is rejected

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), there is no formal appeal process available to international students who are rejected for a Canadian study permit.

However, international students can apply for reconsideration of their study permit decision if they can present new evidence that argues against the rejection of their initial application.

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Note: As of January 22, 2024, international students must include a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) when applying for a study permit. More information on the significance of this letter will follow later in this article.

Things to know about reapplying for a Canadian study permit

The following will outline some key points to remember before submitting a second study permit application to IRCC.

How long do I have to reapply?

According to IRCC, international students can reapply for a study permit at any time, as long as their PAL remains valid. In other words, your study permit application must be submitted before the PAL expires.

The department clarifies, however, that a PAL may or may not explicitly list an expiry date. Accordingly, IRCC notes that an individual PAL will either expire on the listed date or on January 21, 2025 (if no date is listed).

What do I need to reapply?

International students need several things before they reapply for a Canadian study permit.

Further to IRCC’s earlier notes about PAL validity, the department clarifies that the applicant’s PAL only needs to be valid when IRCC receives it with the study permit application.

This means that an applicant’s PAL does not need to be valid when the study permit application is processed. Additionally, since there is no appeal process for rejected study permit applications, any international students looking to apply for reconsideration must take the time to strengthen their second application before resubmission.

IRCC will only reconsider applications that present new information (including new evidentiary documents) that resolves the concerns/issues that were present with an applicant’s first submission.Therefore, it can help to understand exactly why the first application was rejected by IRCC. International students may apply to obtain the Global Case Management System (GCMS) notes on their file.

Beyond the explanation provided in IRCC’s refusal letter, these notes may provide greater detail regarding the reasons an application was rejected. This would serve as a good starting point for students who are focused on resubmitting a stronger application.

As an example, if an applicant’s refusal letter or government notes indicate that they were refused because IRCC was not convinced they would leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay, the applicant could submit further official proof of ties to their home country.This may include such things as property ownership, arranged employment and proof of dependants such as a spouse or children.

Click here for more information about study permit refusals.

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