If your passport expires shortly before your course completion date and you're about to submit it at VFS for stamping, the group's advice was to proceed with your current passport rather than delay for renewal.
What group members advised:- Proceed with your current passport as-is. Passport renewal appointments were reported as significantly delayed, so waiting to renew first risks missing your VFS submission window entirely.
- Be aware of the general rule that your travel document should have at least 6 months of validity for a visa application — this is a standard requirement across most visa applications, so check how it applies to your specific stamping situation before assuming it's fine to submit with an almost-expired passport.
- Plan to apply for a study permit extension from within Canada if needed — you can start your course and apply for an extension partway through if your travel authorization or permit doesn't fully cover your remaining study period.
Because passport validity rules and VFS/consulate appointment availability change, confirm current requirements with VFS/the visa office and your program's international office before submitting, rather than relying solely on past member experiences.