What is Maintained Status?
Maintained status allows you to study and work in Canada under the conditions of your expired permit as long as you extend your study permit from within Canada before it expires. You must apply online to extend your stay as a student by 11:59:59 PM Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on the day your study permit expires. Failing to apply by this deadline will result in the loss of your student status in Canada and you will be required to apply for a restoration of your study permit. If you leave Canada while on maintained status, you lose your maintained status. This means you cannot study or work upon re-entry to Canada until you have received your new study permit.
Travelling while on Maintained Status
Once on maintained status, students are advised not to travel outside Canada until they receive a physical copy of their new study permit. If you do travel, it is strongly recommended that you return to Canada prior to the expiration of your study permit. When returning to Canada if your study permit is still valid, or IRCC extended your permit while you were away, the border officer may let you enter as a student.
If IRCC is still processing your study permit extension, the border officer may let you enter as a visitor. In this case, you can’t study or work until you get your extended study permit. The officer at the port of entry may also ask you to prove you have enough money to support yourself in Canada.
A border officer may have some questions for you when you arrive back in Canada. If the officer believes there’s reason to refuse your re-entry, you won’t be able to re-enter Canada. The officer may ask you for a copy of your extension application, the fee payment receipt, or any other document to prove you applied for an extension.
Medical coverage while on Maintained Status
Eligible individuals residing in BC with maintained status while waiting for a subsequent work or study permit may be eligible for an initial six months of temporary coverage, with additional temporary coverage provided if applicable. To request temporary coverage, provide the requested documentation to www.gov.bc.ca/managingyourMSPaccount. If MSP is not able to provide temporary coverage, purchase temporary private health insurance, such as the Guard Me Health Plan, to cover you until you can reinstate your MSP coverage. Once you get your new immigration document, you will need to extend or reapply for MSP.
Travelling while Studying
Students may travel outside Canada and return, provided their Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is valid at the time of re-entry.
However, travel during an academic term or while on maintained status is not recommended. Students who leave Canada while on maintained status will lose that status and will not be permitted to resume studies or work until their new study permit application is approved.
What documents do I need to carry when reentering Canada?
When reentering Canada, we recommend that you have the following documents:
- A valid TRV/eTA
- Photocopies of your identity documents with you, including your passport, BC ID, study permit, etc.
- Print a Confirmation of Enrolment letter or course schedule from General Self-Service and bring it to the border with you.
- Make sure you are covered for basic medical insurance while outside of Canada:
- If you are enrolled in BC MSP and you travel outside of Canada, you will not be covered by basic medical insurance. You will need to seek travel insurance that includes basic medical insurance.
- KPU's Temporary Medical Insurance plan may include coverage outside of Canada; please double-check your Guard Me policy.
- Keep your emergency contact information up-to-date in KPU's records, using General Self-Service.
Can I be denied re-entry to Canada?
Yes. A border services officer has the authority to deny re-entry for a variety of reasons, including concerns related to health, criminality, security, misrepresentation, possession of prohibited items, or lack of valid travel documents. Each case is assessed individually, and entry is never guaranteed.