My Study Permit is Valid, but My Visa Expired." Can I Visit India?

My Study Permit is Valid, but My Visa Expired." Can I Visit India?

Critical Travel Advisory

"My Study Permit is Valid, but My Visa Expired."
Can I Visit India?

Leaving Canada is easy. Getting back in is the hard part. Here is how to avoid getting stranded.

⚠️ The Golden Rule of Canadian Immigration

You cannot enter Canada with just a Study Permit.

Your Study Permit (the big paper) gives you legal status to stay inside Canada.
Your TRV (Visa Stamp) in your passport gives you permission to enter Canada.

If your TRV has expired, the airline in India will not let you board the flight back to Canada, even if you show them your valid Study Permit.

If you have at least 1-2 months before your planned trip, this is the safest option. You apply for a new TRV (Temporary Resident Visa) from inside Canada.

The Process (Inside Canada)

  1. Apply Online: Submit an application for a "Visitor Visa (from inside Canada)" via your IRCC portal.
  2. Proof of Status: Upload your valid Study Permit and a "Confirmation of Enrollment" letter from your college/university.
  3. Passport Request (PPR): Once approved, you will be asked to mail your physical passport to the Case Processing Centre in Ottawa (CPP-O).
  4. Receive & Fly: They stick the new visa foil in your passport and mail it back. Now you can travel worry-free.

*Current Processing Time (Inside Canada): ~15 to 30 Days.

Strategy 2: Renewing in India (Risky)

If you must leave urgently (e.g., family emergency) and cannot wait for the stamp in Canada, you have to apply for the TRV from India. This carries significant risks.

The RiskProcessing times in India can be unpredictable. If your application gets stuck in a "background check," you could be stranded in India for months, missing your semester.
The ProcessYou must submit a fresh TRV application through the VFS system in India. You will need to submit your biometrics again if they are older than 10 years (unlikely for students).
The InterviewWhile rare for renewals, IRCC *can* call you for an interview in Delhi/Mumbai to ask why you haven't finished your studies yet.

The "Safe Return" Checklist

Regardless of which strategy you choose, when you land back at a Canadian airport (Toronto/Vancouver), the CBSA officer will demand these documents:

  • ✔ Valid Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months.
  • ✔ Valid TRV (Visa Stamp): The new one you just got!
  • ✔ Valid Study Permit: The original paper document.
  • ✔ Proof of Enrollment: A letter from your college confirming you are registered for the upcoming semester. (Officers check this to ensure you aren't just coming back to work illegally).
  • ✔ Transcript: A copy of your grades to prove you are actually studying and passing your classes.

Don't Get Stuck at the Border.

Filing for a TRV inside Canada is different from applying outside. Smile Foreign Education can handle the entire application process for you to ensure you get your passport stamped fast.

Smile Foreign Education

201 ABC II Complex, HL Commerce College Road
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat