The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) announced temporary changes for foreign students on April 30, 2020. Those changes have been made given the reality that many foreign students in Quebec must extend their stay in the province due to the current global health pandemic and the resulting interruption of their studies.
MIFI has extended the minister’s consent for the duration of the stay in Quebec of foreign students whose Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) was set to expire between April 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
Foreign students in Quebec may submit an application to extend their study permit without having to include a new CAQ. This will allow students to maintain valid temporary status in Canada and complete their education whenever courses resume, without having to include a new CAQ.
For foreign students seeking to extend their academic studies in Quebec into 2021 to complete a study program or begin a new program, they must submit a new CAQ application for studies to the MIFI and a new study permit application to IRCC. Students are advised to begin the application process at least three months before their current study authorization expires.
For most foreign students wishing to study in Quebec, the CAQ is required in addition to a study permit. The CAQ is generally valid for the duration of one’s study program or their level of study up to a maximum of 49 months.
The Quebec government’s full announcement can be accessed here.
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