It can be alarming when you apply to extend your study permit for a new course and the label on your passport comes back saying 'Visitor' instead of 'Study'. Here's what group members clarified:
- Your study permit and your Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) are two separate documents. The study permit is what authorizes you to study; the TRV is what lets you travel/re-enter Canada. A study permit is not itself a travel document.
- When you renew/extend the TRV portion for travel purposes, it is commonly labeled 'Visitor' on the visa sticker — this is standard and doesn't mean your study permit was downgraded or denied. As long as you have a valid study permit for your second course, your study status is intact.
- This is a normal, common outcome, not an error — multiple members confirmed it's the standard way TRVs are labeled during a study permit extension.
If you're unsure, check that you have (a) a valid study permit document showing your current program, separate from (b) the visa/TRV sticker in your passport — both being valid together is what matters, regardless of the label printed on the sticker.