Top 5 Common Mistakes International Students Should Avoid
Being an international student in Canada can feel a bit like walking a tight rope. Before you take a step in any direction, you want to make sure that step won’t break a rule, make your path to permanent residence more challenging than it already is, or lead to removal from Canada. Starting the journey with information is crucial to avoiding one of these pitfalls.
This is my list of the top five mistakes international students should avoid:
Not complying with the conditions of the study permit.
This is one of the most challenging aspects of being an international student. If you don’t comply with the conditions of your study permit, you could derail your chances of ever getting permanent residence in Canada.
Conditions to comply with include:
Not working before your study program begins (when you first arrive)
Not working if your study permit does not authorize it
Not working more than 24 hours per week off campus (no limit on campus)
Not getting authorization from your DLI to take a leave of absence from your studies (up to 150 days)
Not working on or off campus during an authorized leave of absence
Working toward your degree by enrolling full-time in your program of study and passing all courses each semester (some exceptions apply)
Failure to meet these conditions could result in losing your study permit, being asked to leave Canada or being ineligible for a PGWP at the end of your program. It would also make you ineligible for permanent residence.
2. Failing to change your status after completing your studies
Provided you have complied with the conditions of your study permit, there are still areas of confusion for many. Once you receive your final transcripts, degree, or letter of completion, you must:
Apply to change your status or leave Canada within 90 days
If you were working up to this point, you must stop working until you apply for a PGWP or other work permit (under current conditions, subject to change)
Wait for your transcript/degree/letter of completion to apply for the PGWP
Restore your status as a student if your study permit expires before you receive your transcript/degree/letter of completion and stop working, if applicable
3. Failing to apply for a PGWP within 180 days of receiving your final transcript, degree, completion letter.
A PGWP is a once in a lifetime work permit. It cannot be renewed, and you must apply for it within 180 days of receiving your final transcript, degree or completion letter. Applying sooner rather than later is important because:
If you wait too long and the application is returned or rejected because of an error, you may miss the 180-day timeframe that would allow you to correct the error
Resubmitting after the 180-day deadline is too late and the once in a lifetime opportunity will be gone
If you plan to do a second degree, you will want to strategize whether and when you apply for the PGWP as it is not granted per degree but rather per person.
Developing a strategy around multiple degrees and a PGWP is complex. Seek the advice of an immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer as this requires careful consideration.
4. Not thinking about or planning a long-term immigration strategy.
You really need to plan your program of study, PGWP, work experience, and permanent residence application before you apply to a DLI. This wasn’t always the case, but in 2025 it is essential. You should ensure:
The program offered at your DLI is PGWP eligible
The program offers a 3-year eligibility for the PGWP (usually 2 years of work experience is required to get enough points to be eligible for a round of invitation and you’ll need the last year to continue working while in the Express Entry pool)
That you receive the maximum number of CRS points in areas you can control.
Your English meets CLB 9 in all four skill areas
If you have French skills, use your time studying and working to get your French to CLB 7 in all four skill areas
If French isn’t your thing, think about doing a second degree (if you only have one) or getting foreign work experience to boost your points, if necessary
You could look at the Express Entry category-based selection to plan your studies, but those could change by the time you finish so it shouldn’t be the only strategy
If you are married, make sure your spouse’s language skills are strong (CLB 7+) and their education and work experience contribute to your overall score (your spouse may want to create their own Express Entry profile to increase chances of an ITA)
If your spouse is a stay-at-home parent without work experience or post- secondary education, it will be very difficult to earn enough CRS points to get an ITA and IRCC is cracking down on the non-accompanying-spouse ruse
These are only some of the areas to consider building a strategy around and every situation is distinct, so getting professional advice is important.
5. Relying on unauthorized practitioners (UAPs) or unverified immigration advice
This is perhaps the biggest mistake you can make because it will, in many cases, prevent you from even setting foot in Canada. IRCC requires applicants who use representatives to declare they used a representative to apply for the visa or permit.
That representative’s name must be on file, whether they were paid or not, and if they were paid, they must be RCICs or lawyers. If your UAP completed your application and did not declare a representative, it may result in:
IRCC accusing you of misrepresenting a material fact in your application
Being unable to begin your program of study
A five-year ban from entering Canada
Significant difficulty entering Canada in the future
While unverified immigration advice may not result in a five-year ban from entering Canada, it could still jeopardize your future in the country or even your ability to obtain permanent residence through:
Making poor decisions that don’t lead to a work or study permit, accumulating CRS points, or eligibility for a permanent residence pathway
Applying under an incorrect program
Getting a refusal
Leaving you stranded in Canada without status or a way to restore or change your status
You and your family worked hard and sacrificed a lot so that you could come to Canada to study and become a permanent resident. You don’t want to jeopardize that investment and expectation to save money or take shortcuts that don’t exist.
Do things correctly from the start. Get reliable and competent advice from an RCIC or lawyer and plan your future in Canda from the beginning, not the end. It will require work, but it’s easier to do bit by bit along the way than at the end when the clock is ticking.
Reach out to us at COMPASS Immigration Solutions to discuss any issues you may have or to develop a strategy around your plans for permanent residence.