Yes, leaving Canada does not cancel a valid study permit, but the permit is not a travel document, so your child also needs a valid visitor visa or eTA to come back.
- Two documents: To re-enter, a student needs a valid passport, a valid study permit and a valid visitor visa or eTA, whichever applies to their nationality.
- Check dates first: If the visitor visa will expire before the return date, apply for a new one before leaving Canada. An eTA is linked to the passport used for the study permit application.
- United States exception: A student whose visa has expired may be allowed back if they visited only the United States or St-Pierre and Miquelon and return before their authorized stay ends.
- At the border: A border services officer makes the final decision each time. Carry proof of enrolment at the school along with the passport and permit.
- Medical results: If an immigration medical exam was required, the results must still be valid on the day of entry. They are valid for 12 months.
Please note: Entry is never automatic; check the IRCC travel page before each trip.
Official sources: IRCC: International students travelling outside Canada and re-entering · IRCC Help Centre: Can I travel outside Canada while studying?
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More questions on this topic
- How do you get a study permit for high school in Canada?
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- Is there a risk that the study permit will be refused, and what should we do if it is?
- Can an international high school student legally work while studying in Canada?
- Are volunteer work or community service hours compulsory in Canadian high schools?
- Are biometrics and a medical exam compulsory in the study permit process?