Your passport expiry date is easy to overlook when your attention is on a school offer, a job or an application deadline. Put it beside those other dates before you make a plan. A passport that is still valid today may not cover the period you are hoping to spend in Canada.

Why the expiry date matters

IRCC cannot issue a study permit, work permit or visitor record beyond the expiry date of your passport. A new passport obtained after you arrive may allow you to apply to extend your stay, but renewing the passport does not itself extend your immigration document.

That distinction is worth keeping on your calendar. Your passport and your permission to remain in Canada have separate dates and separate processes. Check both documents instead of treating whichever expires later as the date that controls everything.

Make a small document table

Write down the document name, number, issue date and expiry date for each passport, permit or visitor record relevant to your plans. Keep the table private and store it with your records. Add a reminder well before each expiry so there is time to find the applicable instructions.

Then compare the dates with your intended study period, employment arrangements or visit. If something does not line up, make that a question to resolve before you submit an application. Do not assume that the length of a course or job offer determines how long a permit will be issued.

If you renew your passport

Keep a copy of the old passport and a clear copy of the new one. Note which passport details appear in any application already in progress. Check the instructions for updating that application rather than simply waiting for someone to notice that your passport has changed.

For travel, also check the visa or eTA requirements that apply to the passport you will use. A passport renewal and a permit extension are not substitutes for that check. If there is a visa in an old passport, follow IRCC’s specific guidance before deciding what to carry.

The useful habit is simple: review the documents together. Before making a booking or pressing submit, pause long enough to compare the passport, immigration document and relevant application dates. If you are unsure how the dates affect your situation, ask before committing to a plan.

Official guidance

IRCC: valid passports and travel documents

General information. Guidance checked October 10, 2026; confirm current requirements before acting. Contact NestedBird to discuss your circumstances.