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Got a visitor visa (V-1) stamp instead of a student visa (S-1) after extending your study permit — is that a problem?

Canada • Study Permit • study 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Step-by-Step

If you extended your study permit and then applied for passport stamping, but the visa sticker that came back says visitor visa (V-1) instead of student visa (S-1), the group's consensus was that this is not a problem.

What group members advised:
  1. Both V-1 and S-1 stamps serve the same purpose: travel and entry authorization. The visa sticker in your passport is not what grants your study or work rights in Canada — your actual study permit document (issued separately) is what governs your status and conditions once you're in the country.

  2. No need to reapply for a different visa stamp. Since the sticker only controls travel/entry, having a V-1 instead of an S-1 does not change your underlying student status.

  3. Check that the visa's validity period covers your travel needs — specifically whether the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) validity extends beyond your study permit's expiry, since that affects how long you can re-enter Canada without needing a new travel document.


If you're ever unsure whether a visa sticker type affects your specific situation, it's worth confirming with IRCC or a consultant, but based on this experience the sticker type itself caused no issue.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Tip: Remember the visa sticker (V-1 or S-1) only controls travel/entry — your study permit document governs your actual status in Canada.
  • Don't: Don't assume you need to reapply for stamping just because you got a visitor visa sticker instead of a student visa sticker.
  • Tip: Check your visa sticker's validity period against your study permit's expiry to plan future travel.

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