Frequently Asked Questions

The Government of Canada has updated information on COVID-19 entry requirements that can be found on their COVID-19 Announcements webpage.  Be sure to check frequently in advance of your travels.

As a first step, you should have the right documents to enter the country you are visiting. The ISSO cannot advise on immigration to other countries, but we can help you find the right sources of information.

To re-enter Canada, you should have your passport, as well as a study permit and Temporary Resident Visa (if you need one) that are both valid for the duration of your trip. You should also have a current Carleton Certificate of Enrolment.

IRCC publishes processing times for various types of applications. These are estimates and not service guarantees.

If you submitted a study permit renewal application before the expiry date on your old permit, and if you have remained in Canada, you may continue to study and work as authorized by a study permit as usual, even if your current permit has expired while you are waiting. Your Social Insurance Number remains valid.

If you submitted a Co-op Work Permit Application, you can work as authorized by your study permit until you have the work permit.

If you are eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, and you submitted your application while you had a valid study permit, then you may be authorized to work without a work permit until you get the decision from IRCC. See the complete eligibility details in the ISSOs PGWP Application Guide.

If you need a new Temporary Resident Visa, then you should remain in Canada until your application is approved and the new visa is inserted into your passport. If you leave Canada, you won’t be able to return without a valid visa. (There is an exception if you have a valid study permit and travel only to the United States.)

The ISSO often recommends that students include additional documents to make their study permit or work permit application clearer or more convincing.

The IRCC online application takes only one PDF document for each “Upload” button. However, you can combine several PDFs into one file and then upload that. If you don’t know how to do this on your computer, there are free websites that offer a “merge PDF” function.

You can also use the “Client Information” line for additional documents. It is most important to include all your documents, without worrying about where they go.

Many Carleton students are able to prepare their own study and work permit applications. IRCC’s online system is easy to use, and the ISSO provides information and support for immigration applications.

If you pay someone to do an immigration application for you, make sure they are an Authorized Representative under Canadian law: a lawyer, paralegal, Quebec notary, or Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. These professionals are members of regulatory bodies that work to protect consumers against fraud and unethical practices. You can check if someone is authorized by visiting the Government of Canada law society directory.

An Authorized Representative will always ask you to sign an IMM 5476 Use of Representative form, found on the IRCC site, to include with your application. Using an unauthorized or undeclared representative is illegal and may lead to a refusal of your application.

Applications prepared by Authorized Representatives don’t get faster processing times or other preferential treatment from IRCC.

Learn more about Authorized Representatives from the IRCC’s website.

Still have questions? Connect with us through the ISSO’s Contact Us page!

If you owe money to Carleton, a “financial hold” is placed on your registration documents at Carleton Central. If you are able to pay off the balance, the hold will be released. If you are not able to pay off the balance, and you are facing an immigration deadline such as a study permit expiry date, contact the ISSO. We may be able to facilitate a solution with Student Accounts so that you can submit your application on time.

Most international students must remain enrolled in school while they are in Canada in order to maintain the validity of their study permit and their eligibility for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) by abiding by the terms and conditions of their temporary resident status. There are some limited exceptions to this rule: students can consult the ISSO’s immigration advising team to learn more.

For students who need to take one term off, an approved Leave of Absence for the term allows them to remain in Canada without risk to their study permit validity, PGWP eligibility or health coverage under the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP). Students are reminded that they are not permitted to work in Canada while on leave.

Undergraduate students must contact an ISSO immigration advisor to begin the process of requesting a leave of absence. A leave may be granted for reasons that include Illness or injury, family situations, academic suspension, deferral or change of program.

Graduate students should contact the FGPA for information on the graduate leave policy and to submit the request.

Taking more than one term off may require a student to either leave Canada for a time, or apply to change their status in Canada.

To learn more about the immigration consequences of taking a break from studies, or to discuss options, students may contact: immigration.advising@carleton.ca

We recommend that you have a study permit that is valid for at least 90 days after the end of your final term. This gives you time to get confirmation that you will graduate and to apply to extend your status in Canada if you want to or need to. This is especially important if you plan to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

You should apply for renewal early in your final term, because you want to receive your new study permit before the end of the term.

It is Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s usual practice to allow this 90-day window, so they should approve your application for renewal.

You should provide documents that demonstrate you are an active student and making progress in your studies.

Learn more by visiting our Study Permit renewal Information page and reading our detailed Study Permit Renewal Guide.

You don’t need a new study permit, if your study permit says you can study at any Designated Learning Institution found on this IRCC page. You must notify Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that you have changed schools; instructions can be found on this IRCC website.

If your study permit names your former school, or if you have any questions about your study permit, visit the ISSO.

The Government of Canada has created a plain language reference guide to the rights of temporary foreign workers.

On October 7, 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced that the 20 hour per week cap on off-campus work during school terms would be lifted temporarily for eligible international students. Students must ensure that they are eligible to do off-campus work, which includes being full-time students at Carleton.

The temporary policy is in effect from November 15, 2022 to December 31, 2023. However, some study permit holders will remain restricted to 20 hours per week of work during this period, if they applied for a study permit (outside of Canada) or a study permit extension (within Canada) after October 7, 2022. The submission date of a study permit application is confirmed by the applicant’s Acknowledgement of Receipt notice from IRCC.

Some students who applied for a study permit extension after October 7 may be allowed to work full-time after November 15 and up to the expiry date of their previous study permit.

Students who have questions about authorized work may contact the ISSO’s immigration advising team: immigration.advising@carleton.ca

All students admitted to a co-op program are encouraged to apply for a co-op work permit unless they already have a valid co-op work permit that was issued to them when they entered Canada. A co-op work permit application is free and easy to complete.

Note that a co-op work permit authorizes only work that is part of the student’s academic program at Carleton, and that will appear on the student’s academic transcript.

Students may be able to begin co-op work as work authorized by their study permit, provided they have applied for a co-op work permit (even if they have not yet received it). 

Students who are already in Canada and have applied for a co-op work permit may begin their co-op placement using their on-campus and off-campus work authorization, provided they meet all the eligibility requirements.  For more information, please visit Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Work authorized by a valid study permit for full-time Carleton students  

• On-campus work – no limit on hours per week. For Carleton students, on-campus work can take place at the main Carleton campus, CU@Kanata and the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre.
• Off-campus work – limited to 20 hours in any week, except during a school-scheduled break period, if the student is registered as a full-time student before and after the break.

Temporary public policy removing the 20-hour/week cap on off-campus work for some study permit holders

This public policy applies to the period from November 15, 2022, to December 31, 2023. Not all students can benefit from public policy for the entire period. The application of the policy depends on whether a student applied for a study permit or study permit extension after October 7, 2022.

Proof of the study permit application date is the Acknowledgement of Receipt letter provided to the applicant by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The application number (starting with “S”) on the AOR letter should match the application number on the study permit.

Students do not need to apply for a co-op work permit if they meet both of the following criteria:

• The entire co-op placement takes place between November 15, 2022 and December 31, 2023
  and 
• The student is eligible for the off-campus work hours public policy for the entire period covered by their co-op placement.

The ISSO recommends that all co-op students apply for a co-op work permit, even if they qualify for this exemption.

Students who have questions about authorized work should contact the ISSO’s immigration advising team: immigration.advising@carleton.ca.

The ISSO has put together a website resource dedicated to Post-Graduation Work Permits in addition to a helpful Post-Graduation Work Permit application guide.

There is no simple answer to this question, and no one answer applies to everyone. Canada has multiple permanent residence programs and each has detailed eligibility requirements. Many have competitive selection processes. There are frequent changes to the programs and occasionally new programs are created. 

Most international students won’t become eligible for any PR program until following graduation. For students who wish to remain in Canada while pursuing their PR options, it’s important to maintain valid temporary resident status at all times until PR status is confirmed.

The ISSO cannot offer one-on-one coaching, assessment, or advice on permanent resident issues. However, we do provide opportunities to learn and ask questions. A PR Pathways information session is offered each school term. We also have drop-in immigration Q&As where members of our immigration advising team will answer generic questions about permanent residence. Events are listed on the ISSO Events Calendar.

Depending on when you are applying to graduate, you can extend your UHIP coverage.  Information and extension options are available on our UHIP webpage.

If you are taking online classes from outside Canada, then UHIP is not required. You can have the fee removed from your student account by completing our opt-out form.

If/when you decide to travel to Canada, please email us at isso@carleton.ca for the most current travel and quarantine information. Your UHIP will be reinstated based on your travel date. If you plan on coming to Canada for summer term, you must be enrolled in summer classes.

Please visit the UHIP website to learn all about UHIP health coverage for international students at Carleton.

Yes – The Carleton Bookstore is ready to help you get the textbooks and other materials you need to succeed in your courses at Carleton. Students can order their textbooks from the Bookstore website at www.carletonshop.ca to have them delivered promptly anywhere around the world.

• The bookstore suggests that you place your order as early as possible.
• Some students have had issues using international credit cards on their web site, a recommended solution is to deposit the funds needed onto your Campus Card, and then use the Campus Card to purchase their our site.
• Please use your mailing address, not your home address, if they are different, when placing your order. If you are uncertain on how to write your address for an international delivery, please contact your local post office or delivery service.
• Please use a phone number and email that you currently have access to (i.e. don’t use your future Ottawa phone number if you’re not currently in Ottawa) when placing your order.
• Once your order is placed through their website, the Carleton Bookstore will be in touch by email with a shipping quote. Once that quote is approved, the payment will be processed, the shipment will be sent, and you’ll receive a tracking number so you can follow your shipment.
• Some countries charge an import fee for textbooks, it will be each students’ responsibility to pay these import fees if needed.

Students with any questions about placing an order should contact The Carleton Bookstore by email at thebookstore@carleton.ca or by phone at 613-520-3832.

Tuition fees at Carleton, which can be found on Student Accounts’ page, vary depending on your program. Some international students are eligible to apply to pay domestic fees instead of international student fees. Find these exemptions on the Registrar’s Office site.

Please check the Admissions website for scholarships and bursaries available to all Carleton University students.

Graduate students can check the Graduate Admissions website for information on financial assistance for international graduate students.

Make sure to all check the ISSO’s list of Scholarships for international students.

If you would like to study in a Master’s or PhD Program, please visit the Graduate Admissions website.

If you would like to apply to do an undergraduate degree at Carleton University, please visit the Undergraduate Admissions website.

Please visit Incoming Exchange for detailed information on the program.

Exchange is an opportunity for Carleton students to study abroad at one of our partner institutions while earning credits towards their Carleton degree. To learn more about the Exchange Program, including eligibility requirements and application details, visit our Outgoing Exchange Program website.

The Carleton University Exchange Program allows students to study full time at a partner institution for a single semester (fall or winter) or for a full academic year. Summer term is not included in the Exchange program. However, we do have short summer programs, which can be found at the ISSO’s International Opportunities website.

Learn about how departments and faculties can propose a new Student Exchange Agreement.