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IMM 5709: How to Fill Out the Study Permit Extension Application Form in Canada

The IMM 5709 form is the Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Student, and it is the core form you complete to extend your study permit from inside Canada. Each person applying for a study permit extension, a change of conditions, or restoration of status as a student must complete their own IMM 5709. This guide explains how to fill it out, the fields that most often cause problems, and when to submit it.

What is the IMM 5709 form and who needs it

IMM 5709 is IRCC's official application form for extending a study permit or changing the conditions attached to it. You need it if you are studying in Canada and want to keep studying after your current permit expires, if you are switching to a study permit from another status, or if you are restoring your status as a student after your permit has expired. You can download the current version from the official IMM 5709 page on canada.ca.


The form is not the whole application. You complete IMM 5709, then upload it inside your IRCC secure account along with a letter of acceptance or letter of enrolment from your designated learning institution and any other documents on your personalized checklist. As of the rules now in force, most foreign nationals already in Canada must apply for a study permit extension online, and you must use the IRCC secure account, even if you used a different account for your first permit.

A close-up photograph of a female international student focused on filling out the digital IMM 5709 application form on a laptop. An open Canadian Study Permit and a passport are visible on the desk beside her. She is actively using a mouse in a sunlit university study area.

How to fill out the IMM 5709 form, field by field

Download the form to a computer first. It may not open properly on a tablet or phone, and you need Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher. Filling it out electronically reduces the errors that slow applications down.


A few fields cause most of the trouble:

  1. UCI (Question 1): Your Unique Client Identifier is on your current study or work permit, printed under the "Country of Citizenship" section. Copy it exactly.

  2. Application type (Question 3): Check the box that matches what you are doing, an initial or extension of a study permit. If your permit has already expired and you are restoring status, check both "Restoration of temporary resident status as a student" and the study permit extension box.

  3. Name fields: Enter your family name and given names exactly as they appear on your passport, even if misspelled there. Do not use initials. If your passport has no given name, leave that field blank, do not type "NA" or an asterisk.

  4. Marital status (Question 9): If you are common-law, you must also complete the Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (IMM 5409). If you are married, include a photocopy of your marriage certificate.

  5. Details of intended study: Enter your school name, your DLI number, your student ID, your program, and your study dates. If you are also applying for a co-op, open, or post-graduation work permit, indicate that here. If you are using a representative, their details must also go on the Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) form.


The background information section deserves special attention. IRCC's own instructions state that every question in that section must be answered or the application will be considered incomplete and returned. In practice, the applications we see returned are rarely refused on the merits, they are returned unprocessed because one box in this section was left blank. A returned application costs you weeks, and if your permit expires in the meantime, it can cost you your status.

When to apply to extend your study permit with IMM 5709

Apply at least 30 days before your current study permit expires. Two timing rules matter most:

Your study permit cannot be extended beyond your passport's expiry date, so renew your passport first if it expires soon. And if you submit your IMM 5709 before your current permit expires, you can keep studying under the same conditions while you wait for a decision. This is called maintained status. The trap, which IRCC states plainly, is that if you leave Canada while on maintained status as a student, you lose the right to study when you return until your new permit is approved. We see students lose a semester this way after a quick trip home.


If your permit has already expired, you may be able to apply to restore your status as a student using the same IMM 5709: select the restore-status option in section 3, include a note explaining why you need to extend your stay, and pay the restoration fee. Restoration must be requested within a limited window after your permit expires, so confirm the current deadline on IRCC's official restore-your-status page before relying on it. You cannot study while your status is being restored.

IMM 5709 fees and faster processing

The fee for a study permit, including extensions, is $150 per person. If you are restoring your status as a student, the cost is $396.25, which is the $246.25 restoration fee plus the $150 study permit fee. You pay at the end of the online application with a credit or debit card.


One processing detail is worth knowing: if you are changing to a new post-secondary designated learning institution, IRCC offers faster processing of 60 days when you tell them you are changing schools by selecting "Yes" to the changing-DLI question in the online tool. For general study permit extension processing times, which change frequently, check IRCC's official processing times tool before you rely on any figure.

Filling out IMM 5709 feels routine until one blank field sends the whole application back. If your study permit is close to expiring, or your status has already lapsed, Amir Ansari, RCIC, can review your IMM 5709 and supporting documents before you submit and help you avoid a returned application. Book a consultation to have your file checked.


A candid outdoor photograph of a male East Asian student on a Canadian university campus, holding a transparent folder containing documents clearly labeled 'IMM 5709 Checklist,' 'Letter of Enrolment (UBC),' and 'Passport Photocopy.' He is simultaneously reviewing an IRCC portal on his tablet and a notification on his smartphone during golden hour.

Why this matters for your immigration application

A study permit extension is not only about staying in school. Your study permit underpins your eligibility for a post-graduation work permit, and your time as a full-time student feeds into later permanent residence pathways. A gap in status, or a returned application that lapses your permit, can ripple into your PGWP and PR plans. When explaining this to students, the key distinction is between an application that is complete and one that is consistent: IRCC can return an incomplete form on sight, but inconsistencies between your IMM 5709, your letter of acceptance, and your passport are what trigger questions later. Both are within your control if you slow down and check.

Frequently asked questions about IMM 5709

What is the IMM 5709 form used for?

IMM 5709 is the application to extend your study permit, change its conditions, or restore your status as a student in Canada. Each applicant completes their own copy and submits it through the IRCC secure account.


How do I fill out and submit the IMM 5709 form?

Download it to a computer, open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher, answer every question, and validate it if the form prompts you. You then upload the completed IMM 5709 inside your IRCC secure account with your letter of acceptance and the other documents on your checklist. Most applicants in Canada must apply online.


How much does a study permit extension cost?

The study permit fee, including extensions, is $150 per person. Restoring your status as a student costs $396.25 in total. Biometrics may apply separately depending on your situation.


What happens if my study permit expires before I apply?

You may be able to restore your status as a student if you keep meeting your permit conditions. You use the same IMM 5709, select the restore-status option, add a note explaining the reason, and pay the restoration fee. Restoration must be requested within a limited window after expiry, so confirm the current deadline on IRCC's official page. You cannot study until your status is restored and you receive a new permit.


Can I leave Canada while my IMM 5709 is being processed?

You can travel, but if you are on maintained status as a student and you leave Canada, you lose the right to study when you return until your new permit is approved. Plan travel carefully while an extension is pending.

Still unsure whether to extend or restore, or worried a field on your IMM 5709 could get your file returned? Amir Ansari, RCIC, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant in Vancouver, helps students across Metro Vancouver submit clean study permit extension applications the first time. Reserve a consultation to review your specific situation.

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This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice. Program criteria, requirements, processing times, and selection approaches can change without notice. Always confirm details on official government websites or consult a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for advice specific to your situation.

 
 
 

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