International students in Canada sometimes face unexpected situations that force them to pause their studies. A medical issue, family emergency, pregnancy, school closure, or even a program change can make it difficult to continue classes. In these situations, many students worry about two things: whether they can legally stay in Canada and whether taking a break will affect their Post- Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The good news is that Canada allows an authorized leave from studies in certain circumstances. However, there are important rules you must follow to protect both your study permit status and future PGWP eligibility.
An authorized leave is a temporary break from your studies that has been approved by your Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
According to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), students may take an authorized leave of up to 150 days and still be considered actively pursuing their studies. This means you can remain compliant with your study permit conditions if the leave meets IRCC requirements.
IRCC recognizes that some situations are beyond a student's control.
The key requirement is that your school must formally authorize the leave.
The maximum authorized leave period is generally 150 consecutive days.
If you resume your studies within that period, IRCC normally considers you to be actively pursuing your studies. However, if your leave extends beyond 150 days, you may need to change your status or leave Canada to remain compliant with immigration rules.
Keep track of your leave dates carefully. Even a legitimate reason may create immigration complications if the leave exceeds the permitted period.
In most cases, an approved leave does not automatically invalidate your study permit.
However, you must be able to prove that:
IRCC may ask for documents showing:
This is why it is important to keep all emails, letters, and official records from your institution.
This is one of the most misunderstood rules among international students.
Even if your study permit normally allows on-campus or off-campus work, you cannot work while you are on an authorized leave from studies.
Many students mistakenly assume their work authorization continues because their study permit remains valid. Unfortunately, that is not how IRCC views authorized leave periods.
If your institution is temporarily closed because of a strike, specific work authorization exceptions may apply for up to 150 days.
This is often the biggest concern for international students.
The good news is that an authorized leave does not automatically make you ineligible for a PGWP.
IRCC specifically states that students may still qualify if the leave was authorized and they complied with study permit conditions. However, students must provide evidence showing that the leave was officially approved by their DLI.
An unauthorized leave can create serious problems.
IRCC may determine that you failed to meet your study permit conditions. This can affect:
Even if your reason for taking time off was legitimate, failing to obtain proper authorization can create complications later.
Whenever you take an authorized leave, create a file containing all related documents.
Having these documents ready can make your PGWP application much smoother.
Students often continue working without realizing that work authorization stops during an authorized leave.
Verbal approval from a professor or advisor is not enough. Always obtain official documentation.
Extending a leave beyond the allowed period can create compliance issues.
Many students wait until they apply for a PGWP to gather documents. By then, obtaining records can be more difficult.
An authorized leave from studies can provide much-needed flexibility when life circumstances interrupt your education. When properly approved by your Designated learning institutions and kept within IRCC's guidelines, an authorized leave generally does not harm your study permit status or PGWP eligibility. The most important steps are obtaining formal approval, keeping detailed records, avoiding work during the leave period, and returning to your studies within the permitted timeframe. Following these rules can help you stay compliant and protect your future immigration goals in Canada.
Most authorized leaves can last up to 150 consecutive days. If your leave exceeds this period, additional immigration considerations may apply.
No. International students are generally not allowed to work on or off campus during an authorized leave from studies.
Not necessarily. Authorized leaves that comply with IRCC requirements typically do not affect PGWP eligibility if proper documentation is provided.
You do not usually need to notify IRCC immediately. However, you must be able to provide evidence of the authorized leave if requested.
Include official leave approval letters, supporting documents explaining the reason for the leave, and records showing when you resumed your studies.
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