How to cancel Canada student visa

If you’ve applied for or received a Canadian student visa but have decided not to continue with your plans to study in the country, you have the option to cancel your visa.

Upon cancelling it, you cease to be a student in the country, unless you submit a fresh application and start over again.

Cancelling your student visa, whether it has already been issued or not, doesn’t come with any penalties – none at all.

Read also: Disadvantages of studying in Australia for international students

However, if you later decide to study in Canada, you’ll go through the entire application process again –  from the beginning.

Whether you want to cancel due to a shift in academic interests, a better opportunity elsewhere, or personal reasons, here’s how to do it.

How to cancel a Canada student visa

To cancel your Canada student visa, notify your school and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) of your intention to cancel, and return your study permit to the nearest IRCC office or visa application centre, if you have been issued one.

Step 1. Contact your institution

Cancelling your student visa, means you are no longer interested in being an active student of your institution in Canada.

Therefore, you have to contact your institution and inform them of your decision to cancel your studentship.

Send an email or letter with the following details:

• • Full name (as on your student profile)
  • Passport number
  • Student ID number
  • Program of study
  • Current level of study
  • Reason for cancelling your visa

In addition, ask them for the specific procedures to follow.

Step 2. Notify Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Next, notify Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) of your intention to cancel your student visa.

To do this, submit a letter of withdrawal or cancellation, plus, your details through the IRCC’s web form.

• Go to the IRCC web form here
• Scroll down and click on the “Withdraw or cancel your application” box 
• This will take you to the page where you’ll choose who you are.
• If you applied for the visa by yourself, select “I’m the principal applicant”, if you are cancelling for someone, select “I’m a representative”. and click continue to the form.
• Next, fill out the form with your name, email address, date of birth, country of origin and other required details in the form.
• In the text box, explain why you want to cancel your visa.
• Upload any documents to support your explanation
• Accept that you have read and understand the content of the form
• Review your details and submit.

Upon submitting, you’ll get an email from IRCC, confirming the receipt of your request.

3. Return your study permit

Your study permit allows you to engage in academic activities in Canada, now that you’re no longer a student, Canada needs it.

If you have been issued your study permit, return the permit to the nearest IRCC office or visa application centre around you.

Attach a copy of your cancellation letter or cancellation confirmation to your permit when returning it.

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When the cancellation process is complete, you’ll be notified by the IRCC.

4. Notify other revenant authorities

Since you’re no longer a student, notify everyone who needs to know, like your landlord or housing provider, health insurance provider, and any agency you’re working with as a student.

5. Leave Canada ASAP

If you were in Canada when you cancelled your student visa, you need to leave, your time is up.

Since you stopped being a student, you have no legal status in the country therefore, you need to leave.

If you want to stay longer in the country, you can apply for other visa category.

What happens when you cancel your student visa in Canada?

When you cancel your student visa in Canada:

• You’ll lose your student status: Sending a request to cancel your student visa means you no longer want to be a student.

Once your request is approved, you’ll lose your status (be out of status) as a student in the country.

This means you’re no longer authorized to enter Canada for academic purposes with the cancelled visa. 

• Your study permit will become invalid: If you have been issued a study permit, it’ll become invalid.

And, you need to return it to the nearest Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office or visa application centre.

• It won’t stop you from getting future visas: When you cancel your student visa, it doesn’t mean you won’t be allowed to enter Canada again, rather, your current approval to enter the country to study has been terminated.

If you want to return, you have to apply for another visa based on the purpose of your visit.

• You’ll likely not get a refund: Getting a refund for any fees you have already paid (like tuition fees) depends on your school and their policies.

You may or may not get a refund.

• You must leave immediately: If you’re in Canada before cancelling your student visa, you’ll leave the country immediately.

Your stay in the country is tied to the student visa you just cancelled. 

Lastly, with your student visa cancelled, if you want to study in the country in the future, you have to apply for another student visa.

Can I cancel my Canada student visa after being stamped on my passport and get my college fee and GIC refunded due to personal issues?

Yes, you can cancel your Canada student visa even after it has been stamped in your passport.

However, getting a refund for your college fees and Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) will depend on the policies of your educational institution and financial institution.

Most colleges have favourable refund policies, so you’ll get your college fee back, depending on when you cancel.

As for the GIC, you can request a refund, but your chances will depend on the terms and conditions of the financial institution where you purchased it.

Before your student visa is approved, you’re usually required to pay part or all of your first-year tuition fees.

If you decide to cancel, you can get a refund, provided your school has a flexible refund policy in place.

Read also: When I get pregnant in the US under a student visa does that allow me to stay permanently?

To know your chances of a refund, contact your institution’s international student office and your GIC provider.

How to cancel a study permit in Canada online

To cancel your study permit in Canada:

• Log in to your Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) account.
• From your dashboard, go to the “My applications” or “Check status and messages” section.
• Find your study permit application and select the option to withdraw or cancel it.
• Follow the prompts and fill out all the required details.
• Submit your cancellation request through your account.
• Wait for acknowledgement from IRCC and subsequently submit your study permit to any IRCC office or visa application centre.

Could I enter Canada if I have a valid student visa but didn’t end up studying there?

Having a valid Canadian student visa means you have approval to enter Canada for academic purposes but you won’t be allowed into the country if you don’t plan to study there.

When you arrive at the port of entry, immigration officers will ask you questions about your purpose of entering the country.

If they notice that you misrepresented your purpose for getting a visa meaning – you have a student visa but have no intention of studying when you enter Canada, they’ll deny you entry.

If you receive a visa to study in Canada, you are required to study upon entering the country.

If you engage in activities other than what your visa was approved for, you’ll be asked to leave the country.

Is it necessary to cancel the Canada student visa if we do not go to Canada?

It’s necessary to cancel your Canada student visa if you decide not to go to Canada for your studies, however, you won’t be punished if you don’t use your visa and decide not to cancel it.

Your visa is an approval to enter the issuing country (which is Canada), you’re not under any obligation to use your visa after getting it.

Can a Canada visa be Cancelled after approval?

Canada visas, including student visas, can be cancelled after approval.

A Canada visa permits you to enter the country, but if you have a reason not to enter Canada after your visa has been granted, you can cancel your visa.

If you leave Canada while on a student visa, what will happen?

If you leave Canada while holding a student visa, nothing will happen – your visa will not be cancelled.

Your visa remains valid until its expiration date unless you send a request to cancel it or it is revoked by Canadian authorities.

If you leave Canada while on a student visa, you can return as long as your visa is valid.

Leaving Canada while you are on a student visa does not automatically cancel your student visa.

As a student in Canada, if you have a reason to discontinue your studentship in any institution in the country, you can cancel your student visa.

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Once cancelled, you’ll lose your student status and if you are in the country at the time of cancelling, you need to leave ASAP.

Cancelling your student visa does not in any way stop you from getting other visas to Canada in the future, however, you can’t enter the country on the same visa again.