Breaks from Studies and Leaves of Absence
Table of Contents
University students may need or want to take a break from active studies in various circumstances. International students must be aware of both university regulations and immigration requirements for study permit holders related to breaks from study. This page explains:
- University regulations on student registration, which are different for graduate and undergraduate students
- Immigration regulations concerning study permit validity and study permit holder compliance in relation to breaks from study
- How to apply for a Leave of Absence
High Level Summary
If an international student takes a break from study that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) does not consider to be an “authorized break from studies”, their study permit can become invalid before its expiry date. The student will have to apply for a new study permit before returning to active studies.
A Leave of Absence that is approved by Carleton can maintain validity of the study permit, provided the leave is for one term only. A study permit does not authorize work in Canada when the student is on a Leave of Absence.
Administrative and Registration Considerations
International Graduate Students
Carleton international graduate students are required to maintain continuous registration. The only exceptions are:
- If their graduate program calendar designates a term as a regularly scheduled break for immigration purposes.
- If their program allows the student to “Not Register”(NR), usually for a summer term. The NR option is not recommended for international students, as it does not meet Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s requirements for an authorized leave.
Unless they have a regularly scheduled program break, international graduate students should request a Leave of Absence to ensure that they may return to their program after a break.
International Undergraduate Students
According to Carleton’s Undergraduate Regulations, the summer term is a regularly scheduled break for immigration purposes for most students in most programs. Note that a regularly scheduled break as described for immigration purposes does not supersede the requirement to register in co-op, a practicum, an internship, continuous registration in a thesis course, or the continuous registration requirement for the B.Sc.N. program.
International students may need Leaves of Absence for immigration purposes if they will take a break during a term that is not a regularly scheduled break.
Immigration Considerations
Conditions that study permit holders must meet are established by Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
- IRPR 220.1(1)) requires most international students to remain registered in classes and to make progress in their studies while they are in Canada. There are exemptions that apply to some study permit holders.
- IRPR 222(1)(a.1) says that a study permit becomes invalid “ the day on which the permit holder is no longer enrolled at the designated learning institution that is named in the permit, other than as a result of completing their studies”. This rule does not specify that the study permit holder is in Canada; and there are no classes of study permit holders who are exempted.
A student is considered to be enrolled for the purposes of IRPR 222(1)(a.1) in these situations:
- A regularly scheduled program break of at most 150 days
- A Leave of Absence that is formally granted by their school and lasts for at most 150 days.
Their study permit remains valid for return to active studies in the following term.
A few other types of 150-day authorized leaves for immigration purposes are when the student is changing schools, a school is closed permanently or on strike, or when admission is deferred by one term. Learn more about authorized leaves from study at the IRCC website.
Students who take other kinds of breaks, including Leaves of Absence for more than 150 days, may have their study permit invalidated if they are not enrolled, even if it the permit has not reached its expiry date.
Continuing to study with an invalid study permit will be considered study without authorization, which may affect the student’s next application for a study or work permit.
- Students who are not in Canada during their break will have to apply for a new study permit before returning to Canada.
- Students who wish to stay in Canada during their break must make an application to remain in Canada as visitor or worker BEFORE they leave school or before the end of their authorized leave. If their study permit becomes invalid, there is no option to restore status. Applying to change status maintains valid temporary resident status, but does not prevent the study permit from becoming invalid.
Most students will have to apply to stay as visitor, however, some students may be eligible for a work permit. They may check eligibility for a work permit using IRCC’s online assessment tool.
When the student is ready to return to school, they will have to apply for a new study permit. For most students, this will be a visa office application. A few students in Canada may be eligible to apply for the new study permit as in-Canada extension of status. The GO-ISSO can help students to determine their best option.
How to Request a Leave of Absence
International Graduate Students
Graduate students may request a Leave of Absence by completing the Academic Registration Change Form and returning it to their graduate program administrator.
When the LOA is approved, the Office of Graduate Studies will send an email that may be used as confirmation of the LOA, should it be needed for future immigration applications. The GO-ISSO will send a follow-up email with immigration and University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) information. The GO-ISSO will also send reminders to return to active study near the end of the leave period.
International graduate students may request LOAs for more than one term. However, multi-term LOAs cannot be authorized breaks for immigration purposes and will invalidate the study permit. Students who wish to remain in Canada should maintain valid temporary resident status by applying to change to visitor or worker status. In all cases, students with multi-term LOAs will have to apply for a new study permit before returning to studies because their previous study permit is invalid, even if it hasn’t passed the expiry date.
For personal advising and support please contact the GO-ISSO immigration advising team: immigration.advising@carleton.ca
International Undergraduate Students
International undergraduate students who are considering not registering or withdrawing from a Fall or Winter term should consult an immigration advisor at the GO-ISSO beforehand. The advisor will discuss eligibility for a LOA, and advise the student on how to submit their request.
The request for a Leave of Absence must include the student’s plan for returning to studies in the term following the leave (excluding a regularly scheduled break).
When the LOA is approved, the student will receive a Certificate of Enrolment confirming the LOA from the Registrar’s Office. This Certificate may be used as official confirmation of the LOA, should it be needed for future immigration purposes. The student will also receive a follow-up email from the GO-ISSO with immigration and UHIP information, as well as reminders to return to active studies.
No Work is Authorized During a Leave of Absence and Until Full-Time Studies are Resumed
Study permit holders are not authorized to work in Canada, either on campus or off campus, while they are on a Leave of Absence. A co-op work permit does not authorize work for a student who is on a Leave of Absence.
Students are also not authorized to work during any school break period immediately following the LOA. For example, if the student has a LOA for the Winter term, they may not work during the summer term.
The student may begin working again as authorized by their study permit on the first day of the next term in which they are registered as a full-time student at Carleton.
University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) Coverage During a Leave of Absence
Students must advise the GO-ISSO whether they are planning to remain in Canada or will be outside of Canada during their Leave of Absence (LOA). If they will remain in Canada, their student account will be charged for UHIP coverage during their LOA.