For a study permit applicant who received their Port of Entry approval (PPR) on 29 December, with classes starting 7 January and an offer letter expiring 10 January, but a passport expiring in only 8 months, the group's advice was direct:
- Ideally, renew your passport earlier in the process. Members noted that once an application is in process — well before approval — is the right time to renew an expiring passport, rather than waiting until after PPR arrives.
- If you're already past that point, use an expedited (tatkal) renewal. In India, a tatkal passport appointment can significantly speed up renewal.
- Attach your PPR letter to the renewal request to explain the time-sensitive situation to passport authorities, since this can support prioritizing your case.
- In parallel, keep pushing your school for an extension on your offer letter deadline while you wait for both the renewed passport and an email response from the institution.
- Once the new passport is ready, send it for visa stamping — you do not need to complete the process on the old, soon-to-expire passport.
Practical takeaway: don't wait until a Port of Entry approval arrives to check your passport's expiry — renew early in the process, and if you're caught late, an expedited renewal with your PPR letter attached is the fastest path to keep both your visa stamping and your program start on track.