Graduated, but is your study permit still valid? The 90-day rule after you finish

For international students in Canada. As of October 2026.

You finished your last exam. Your study permit shows an expiry date months away, so it feels like there is plenty of time. That printed date may not be the one that matters.

The problem: the clock starts when your school tells you that you are done

IRCC’s guidance to its officers (updated June 18, 2026) says your studies are officially completed on the date your school, your designated learning institution (DLI), first tells you that you finished. That notice can be a completion letter, a transcript, or your degree or diploma. The date written on that document is treated as the date you were notified, unless you or your school can prove a different date.

Your study permit then stops being valid on the first of these days: 90 days after the day you completed your studies, the day you are no longer enrolled at your school for another reason (see School Reported You as Not Enrolled?), the day the permit is cancelled, or the expiry date printed on it. If the 90-day date comes first, that is the one that counts.

Why this catches students out

• Many students wait for convocation, which can come weeks or months after the school first confirms completion.
• Some keep looking at the printed expiry date and plan around it.
• By the time they act, part of the 90-day window may already be gone.

What you can do

1. Find the first notice. Look for the first completion letter, final transcript or diploma your school sent you, and note the date on it.
2. Count 90 days from that date. That is the latest point at which your permit stops being valid, unless it ends even earlier.
3. Plan your next step inside that window. Decide early whether you will apply for another permit or status, or leave Canada, so that you are not working against the clock.
4. Get advice on your own situation. Your school’s international office or a licensed professional can help you understand your options.

Two related rules students ask about

• Leave from studies: a leave should not exceed 150 days from the date it starts and must be authorized by your school.
• Changing schools: if your study permit names your school, IRCC’s guidance says you must apply for a new study permit to change to another post-secondary DLI. More: Changing Schools in Canada on a Study Permit: The New DLI Rules.

Planning a work permit after graduation? The application window for that is a separate rule: see PGWP 180-Day Deadline in 2026: When Does the Clock Start?

The point to remember

The expiry date on your study permit is not always the last day it is valid. Your school’s first completion notice starts a 90-day clock, so find that date and plan your next step well inside it.

Check the official pages before you act:

• IRCC, Study permits: Assessing compliance with study permit conditions

Join the conversation

When did your school first confirm that you finished, and did the date surprise you? Share your experience or questions in the comments. Please do not post personal details, application numbers or documents.

This article is general information on Canadian law, as of October 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a representative relationship. Always consult a licensed legal professional for your specific situation.