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Traveling to Canada on a new passport when your child's study permit references the old (expired) one

Canada • Study Permit • study 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Documents Needed

  • Old passport with the valid study permit

    Carry it alongside the new passport, since the permit itself references the old document.

  • New passport

    Issued after the old one expired but before the actual date of travel.

  • Study permit extension application

    May need to be filed based on the original study permit or a parent's work permit, depending on who is applying.

Step-by-Step

A common issue: a study permit was issued against a passport that has since expired and been renewed, and the traveler hasn't yet been to Canada on it.

What group members reported:
  1. Traveling without a fresh visa/permit tied to the new passport is possible, but not guaranteed smooth. One member's family experienced this about two years earlier — they were able to fly on the new passport without a new visa, but the airline (in their case, Air India) had to contact Canadian authorities to get authorization before issuing the boarding pass. This took about an hour, and only worked because the child was travelling with parents who held valid visas — it was described as 'a little worrisome,' with no guarantee authorities would approve it in every case.

  2. Consider applying for a new study permit or extension proactively, based on the original study permit or the accompanying parent's work permit, rather than relying on the airline/airport process to sort it out on the day of travel.


Because outcomes here weren't guaranteed and depended on airline cooperation and last-minute authorization, applying for the extension ahead of travel is the safer route where time allows.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Tip: Airlines may need to get real-time authorization from Canadian authorities when a study permit references an expired passport — this can work, but isn't guaranteed and can take time at check-in.
  • Do: Where possible, apply for a new study permit or extension ahead of travel, based on the original permit or a parent's work permit, rather than relying on day-of authorization.
  • Tip: The traveler having a parent with a valid visa travelling alongside them appears to have helped in the reported case — a minor travelling alone in this situation may face more scrutiny.

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