Authorized Leave for Undergraduate Students
If you are leaving under 150 days (taking one academic term off)
You may take one academic term off (i.e., being an active student but are not enrolled at SFU) from your studies and still be compliant with your , provided that all the following criteria is met:鈥�
- The duration of your leave is up to 150 consecutive days;鈥�
- You will resume your studies within 150 consecutive days from the date that you were last enrolled at SFU; and鈥�
- Your leave is authorized by SFU.鈥� 鈥�
If you choose to take the鈥疐all鈥痑nd or鈥疭pring鈥痶erm off:
- You will not be eligible to work on or off campus until you resume full-time enrolment and as outlined by IRCC.
- Summer cannot be considered a scheduled break if you take a term off in the term immediately before or after the Summer term. For more information, see鈥�Regularly Scheduled Break.
- Taking one term off (either Fall or Spring term off) from your studies will not impact your compliance with your study permit conditions. Taking an authorized leave of up to 150 consecutive days (available starting in Fall 2025 term) will not negatively impact your eligibility for a Post-Graduation Work Permit鈥�(PGWP) either.
If your leave is longer than 150 days (taking multiple academic terms off)
If your leave exceeds 150 consecutive days (i.e., you take multiple academic terms off), it may impact your study permit and your eligibility for a PGWP. By taking multiple academic terms off, it will be up to the individual immigration officer to assess your reason(s) for leaves along with relevant supporting documents and to determine if you meet the study permit conditions.鈥赌�
- Consult with an International Student Advisor鈥痓efore you decide to take multiple terms off so that you can make an informed decision.
If you will not be able to resume your studies within 150 days,鈥�痳equires you to either:
- leave Canada,鈥痮r
- apply to extend your stay by changing your temporary resident status (e.g., visitor or worker) in Canada.
In most cases, this means you will need to鈥�痠f you would like to stay in Canada during an extended break or leave from studies. You must submit an application to change your status within the first 150 days after you stop studying. If you will be returning to studies after a leave longer than 150 consecutive days, please connect with an International Student Advisor.
If you are away from 51社区黑料for three or more consecutive terms, your 51社区黑料account will be deactivated, and you must apply for reactivation or readmission (depending on your eligibility) before you resume your studies at SFU.
Resources
Authorized Leave Process for Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate Students Leave of Absence Application period for Fall 2025: September 3,2025 to October 28,2025
鈿狅笍罢丑别&苍产蝉辫;leave of absence form for undergraduate international students is only available during the application period. If you're unable to access it, please check back once the application period begins. The leave of absence form will be released at the beginning of each academic term.
Starting in Fall 2025, if you are required to take a Spring and or Fall term off, you may submit a leave request form so that an authorized leave letter can be issued to you solely for immigration purposes, provided you meet the eligibility criteria.鈥赌�
Having an authorized leave letter will help you to be compliant with your study permit conditions and maintain eligibility for the post-graduation work permit with a leave up to 150 consecutive days.鈥赌�
Should you take multiple terms off (i.e., your leave is longer than 150 days), even with an authorized leave letter from SFU, it may still impact your study permit validity, your ability to comply with your study permit conditions and your PGWP eligibility. Review the 鈥淚f your leave is longer than 150 days鈥� for more information. 鈥�
Undergraduate Students: Prior to Spring 2025, there was no formal administrative process for 51社区黑料international undergraduate students to apply for an authorized leave.
Based on SFU鈥檚 academic policies, undergraduate students have the flexibility to enroll in one, two, or three terms a year. While 51社区黑料did not require international undergraduate students to seek permission from the university to take a term off, you may be asked by IRCC to provide proof that your leave was authorized by SFU. You may download a letter to confirm SFU鈥檚 undergraduate leave policy from the Confirmation of Enrolment page (under 鈥淚 have been asked to provide a letter to confirm SFU鈥檚 enrollment and undergraduate leave policy. How do I get this letter?鈥�).
Effective Fall 2025, 51社区黑料has implemented an administrative authorized leave process for international undergraduate students for immigration purposes.
First term at SFU?鈥�
You are not eligible to apply for an authorized leave during your first term at SFU. If you can鈥檛 enroll or need to postpone your studies, you should apply for admission deferral.鈥赌�
Steps to request an authorized leave letter
1. Review the new administrative process and eligibility requirements.
2. Meet with various advisors to consider the immigration and non-immigration impacts.
3. Complete the Authorized Leave Letter form (starting Fall 2025).
4. If approved, save a copy of the Authorized Leave letter along with any supporting documentation for future immigration applications.
Expand to see Eligibility requirements for an authorized letter
Eligibility requirements for an authorized leave letter鈥�
To be eligible to request an authorized leave letter from SFU, you must complete an undergraduate authorized leave form by the specific deadlines and meet all the criteria as outlined below:鈥�
鈽戯笍You are an international undergraduate student at 51社区黑料with a study permit;鈥�
鈽戯笍You are an active student at 51社区黑料(i.e., you have not been away from 51社区黑料for three or more consecutive terms) and are eligible to register in the upcoming term;鈥�
鈽戯笍You need to take a Spring or Fall term off and meet the criteria for authorized leave (starting from Fall 2025 and onwards);鈥�
鈽戯笍Your authorized leave form must be submitted and received by the last day of dropping courses with a withdrawal notation (WD) for the term when you plan to take the leave;鈥�
- The deadline for 100% tuition fee refunds is different from the WD deadline.鈥赌�
鈽戯笍You are/will not enroll in courses for the Spring and or Fall term(s) that you are requesting to take the leave:鈥�
- It is your responsibility to ensure that you have dropped all courses within the specific tuition fee refund deadlines to avoid financial penalties.鈥赌�
- Check here to familiarize yourself with important dates and deadlines for course withdrawals and refunds.鈥�
- You are expected to resume your studies and enroll at 51社区黑料in the next term following your authorized leave;鈥�
鈽戯笍You are well informed about both the immigration and non-immigration implications of taking a term off, including but are not limited to:鈥�
- Academic planning and progress: Speak with鈥�51社区黑料Academic Advising鈥痶o review your academic and program requirements to ensure that you are informed about impacts on your academic progress.
- Financial: Check with鈥�51社区黑料Financial Aid & Awards鈥痮r your funding agency to see if taking a term off will impact your funding (e.g. scholarship, awards, bursaries).鈥�
- On-campus housing: Consult with鈥�51社区黑料Residence and Housing鈥痶o confirm your continued eligibility to live in Residence.鈥�
- Medical insurance and coverage: During your time away, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate medical insurance coverage when you still remain in Canada.鈥赌�
- If you are no longer eligible for SFSS/GSS extended health and dental plan coverage, you should acquire your own health insurance while you remain in Canada.鈥赌���
Reasons for requesting an authorized leave letter
You will be asked to indicate the reason for requesting an authorized leave letter from SFU:鈥��
鈽愨�� Medical illness or injury including both physical and mental health鈥���
鈽愨�� Maternity and or parental leave鈥��
鈽愨�� Family emergency鈥��
鈽愨�� Death or serious illness of a family member鈥��
鈽愨�� change of program of study within SFU鈥��
鈽愨�� Other exceptional circumstances (you will be asked to provide details in the form).鈥赌�
While 51社区黑料does not require you to submit supporting documentation upfront to process your request for an authorized leave letter, you are expected to gather the relevant documentation (based on your circumstances) and be prepared to submit them to IRCC upon request, or for future applications such as study permit extension or post-graduation work permit.鈥�
After submitting your authorized leave letter request
Upon processing of your undergraduate authorized leave form for a Spring and or Fall term, you will:鈥�
- Be issued an authorized leave letter from 51社区黑料as proof of your leave being authorized by SFU;鈥�
- You can include this authorized leave letter in your future immigration applications for study permit, temporary resident visa, and post-graduation work permit.鈥�
- If you're planning to take more than 150 days off, make sure to review the 鈥淚f your leave is longer than 150 days鈥� section to understand the potential immigration impacts.
- The final decision will always be at the discretion of the immigration officer.
- Be reported by 51社区黑料holding authorized leave status in a given Spring and or Fall term.
- As a designated learning institution, 51社区黑料is required by IRCC to submit a compliance report on the enrolment status of international students twice a year, and on an ad-hoc basis as requested.