Can international students quit their studies in Canada?

When you receive a study permit in Canada, you must meet all necessary conditions. Therefore, you must study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) all the time. Moreover, you must actively pursue your course or program of study. What if you decide to stop studying? This article is an effort to explain if international students could quit their studies in Canada. Of course, we will also discuss the consequences.

Who is an international student?

In this article, an international student is someone who studies in Canada with a valid study permit. However, the level of studies is not essential. Consequently, whether you are a high school student or doing your Ph.D., the concepts in this post cover you. Also, the expectation is that you are studying at a DLI. If you are not familiar with this concept, read my article on DLIs.

What does quitting studies mean?

The Immigration Regulations expect the students to pursue their studies actively.  Generally speaking, you need to attend at least 15 hours of classes per week. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Here are three examples:

  • In your last semester, you have one or two subjects to study.
  • You are taking a leave for valid reasons.
  • You are changing your school or program, and the next program begins in less than 150 days.

Beyond valid deviations, you may not quit your studies while in Canada. Therefore, if you stop studying, then you are in breach of the IRPR and IRPA.

Do I lose my study permit by quitting my studies?

Under the immigration Regulations, you lose your study permit as soon as one of the following happens:

It seems quitting studies does not fall under any of these circumstances. However, an immigration officer may issue a removal order for someone who leaves their studies. Therefore, if you quit your studies and remain in Canada, you could lose your study permit because of receiving a removal order. The process is nerve-wracking.

Do all international students face the consequences of quitting their studies?

The simple answer is no. Some people who are exempt from these requirements are the following:

  • Family members of diplomats
  • Refugee claimants and their family members
  • People who have passed the first stage of their H&C application
  • Protected people because of PRRA or refugee claims
  • Destitute students
  • Exchange students
  • Family members of the following people:
    • Holders of study or work permits
    • TRP holders if their TRP is valid for more than six months
    • Members of foreign armed forces or diplomats
    • Receivers of unenforceable removal orders
    • Participants of sports events or activities in Canada
    • The clergy

I have summarized the list. However, it gives an idea of who could be exempt.

The solutions for international students who quit their studies

It is difficult to predict the options as the individual circumstances are different. Regardless, here are some potential solutions:

  • Leave Canada before something adverse happens.
  • Apply for a visitor record and change your status from a student to a visitor.
  • File for a TRP if you are facing inadmissibility due to the breach.
  • Get admission from a new school and apply for a new study permit.

I recommend the first option in most cases. However, I must emphasize this solution may not be for you. Also, it would be best if you talked to a professional to make sure the actions you are taking are not against the law.

Let us help!

If you have quit studying as an international student or facing other issues, fill out the following form. Of course, you may book an appointment with me for official advice.

    Full Name (required)

    Email (required)

    Have you entered your email address correctly?

    WhatsApp number(optional)

    Are you inadmissible to Canada?

    YesNoI don't know

    Have you received a removal order from Canada?

    Yes, DepartureYes, ExclusionYes, DeportationYes, type unknownNoI don't know

    Any other issues (select all that apply)?

    Do you believe humanitarian and compassionate grounds apply to you?

    YesNoI don't know

    Please explain the issue briefly:

    Upload a file that could help us better understand your situation - only PDF, JPG or PNG and less than 0.5MB

    Relevant article:

    Related Posts

    Canada to Expedite Temporary Resident Visas for Spousal Sponsorship Applicants

    May 28, 2023

    Work permit for the spouse or common-law partners in Canada

    May 28, 2023

    Decoding the dip in Canadian immigration in early 2023

    May 19, 2023
    Express Entry Canada Conducts PNP Specific Draw

    Express Entry: Canada Conducts PNP-Specific Draw

    May 11, 2023

    If you wish to visit or move to Canada, please fill out our free assessment form. We will review it for free, but we will contact you only if we find an opportunity for you. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session. Consultation sessions are not free, but you will receive formal advice from a licensed practitioner.

    Al Parsai, MA, DTM, RCIC
    Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
    Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
    Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada

    Fill our Free Canada Immigration Assessment Form in your language!

    Disclaimer:
    This article provides information of a general nature only. Considering the fluid nature of the immigration world, it may no longer be current. Of course, the item does not give legal advice. Therefore, do not rely on it as legal advice or immigration advice. Consequently, no one could hold us accountable for the content of these articles. Of course, if you have specific legal questions, you must consult a lawyer. Alternatively, if you are looking for immigration advice, book an appointment.

    The characters and places in the articles:
    All the characters and locations in the articles are fictional, unless otherwise clearly stated. Therefore, any resemblance in names, dates, and places is coincidental.

    Important Notes:
    For our official addresses, trust this website only. We currently do not have offices outside Canada. Therefore, anyone who claims to be our agent is committing fraud. Also, note that we do not issue any work permits or study permits or similar documents. The government of Canada has the sole authority to issue such material.

    Click to read the disclaimer.

    Al Parsai

    This article has been expertly crafted by Al Parsai, a distinguished Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (L3 RCIC-IRB – Unrestricted Practice) hailing from vibrant Toronto, Canada. Al's academic achievements include an esteemed role as an adjunct professor at prestigious Queen's University Law School and Ashton College, as well as a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from York University. A respected member of CICC and CAPIC organizations, Al's insights are further enriched by his experience as the dynamic CEO of Parsai Immigration Services. Guiding thousands of applicants from over 55 countries through the immigration process since 2011, Al's articles offer a wealth of invaluable knowledge for readers.