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Travelling home while your permit extension is in process: why the TRV date decides everything

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

Documents Needed

  • Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)

    The passport stamp/counterfoil that authorizes re-entry — a study or work permit alone does not let you board a flight back to Canada.

  • Extended study/work permit

    Wait for the extension approval, then apply for a new TRV on the basis of the new permits.

Step-by-Step

Scenario: a couple in Canada (study permit + spousal work permit, extensions filed and pending) wants to visit home during the summer break, but both their permits and TRVs expire on the same date a few weeks after the planned return.

What group members explained:
  1. Re-entry runs on the TRV, not the permit. A study permit only governs your status inside Canada; to fly back in you need a valid TRV stamp in the passport. No webform can fix this.

  2. A TRV expiring within days of travel is effectively unusable. Members warned airlines/border officers won't be comfortable admitting someone whose visa lapses a day or two after entry — cutting it that close risks being denied boarding.

  3. The safe sequence: stay until the permit extensions are approved, then apply for a new TRV based on the extended permits, and only then travel. Leaving while everything is about to expire means being stuck outside until a new TRV is issued.


The practical takeaway: before booking any trip, check the TRV expiry — not just the permit. If both are near expiry with extensions pending, defer travel until the new permits and a fresh TRV are in hand.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Tip: A study/work permit doesn't get you back into Canada — only a valid TRV does.
  • Don't: Don't travel planning to re-enter a day or two before your TRV expires — expect problems at boarding or the border.
  • Do: Wait for the permit extension, then apply for a new TRV on the extended permits before travelling.

Have a question about this? Join the discussion.

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