Renewing your CAQ and study permit in Quebec: the order and a realistic timeline

Students in Quebec renew two authorizations, not one: the Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and the federal study permit. Because the CAQ usually has to come first, waiting until a few weeks before your study permit expires is how students end up without status. This guide lays out the order and a realistic timeline.

Start with a dates audit

Take out your passport, your CAQ and your study permit, and write down the three expiry dates. Add your program's expected end date. These four dates rarely line up, and the end of your program says nothing about when your documents expire.

Also note the document you use to re-enter Canada after a trip: a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA). A study permit does not replace it.

The order that works

1. Passport. A study permit is generally not issued beyond your passport's validity, so a passport that expires soon can shorten the permit you get. Renew it first.
2. CAQ. If you need a new one, apply to Quebec's immigration ministry (MIFI) and wait for it. The federal application relies on it.
3. Study permit extension. Apply to IRCC at least 30 days before your current permit expires. IRCC recommends applying earlier than that.

A realistic timeline

When	What to do
Several months before your study permit expires	Dates audit; renew your passport if needed; ask your school for an updated enrolment letter and transcript
As soon as MIFI allows	Apply for the new CAQ, with documents ready to upload
As soon as the CAQ arrives	Apply to extend your study permit
No later than 30 days before expiry	IRCC's deadline to apply

Check the MIFI and IRCC instructions for the exact rules on when each application can be submitted, as they can change.

If something changed in your studies

A change of level, of program or of school can change which authorizations you need. A new level of study often requires a new CAQ. A new school may require a new study permit before you start classes there. Compare your current CAQ and permit with your new admission letter before you assume you are covered.

Do not reuse last year's file

A renewal is not a copy of the first application. Update the proof of enrolment and progress, the financial documents and, if your situation changed, the explanation. If you had a gap, a leave or a program change, explain it briefly with documents from your school.

Your status while you wait

If IRCC receives your extension application before your permit expires and you stay in Canada, you can keep studying under the same conditions until a decision is made. This is often called maintained status. Keep proof that you applied on time.

If your permit has already expired, you do not have that protection. Stop studying and check right away whether you can apply to restore your status, which has its own time limit and fee.

If you leave Canada while your application is in process, you will not be allowed back in unless you have a valid study permit or a letter of introduction showing your permit was approved, plus a valid travel document.

Our CAQ page and our study permit page cover each application in detail.

Frequently asked questions

What is the deadline to extend my study permit?

IRCC asks you to apply at least 30 days before your permit expires, and recommends applying earlier. Because you may need a new CAQ first, plan for several months.

How much does a study permit extension cost?

IRCC lists a $150 fee for a study permit, including extensions. The CAQ has its own fee set by Quebec. Check both on the day you pay.

My program is ending early. Does my permit still run to its printed date?

Not necessarily. IRCC says a study permit ends on the date printed on it or 90 days after you complete your studies, whichever comes first.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 11, 2026:

• IRCC — Extend your study permit: when to apply
• Québec — Application for temporary selection for studies (French)