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Traveling home for winter break on a study permit — do you need a separate travel visa?

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

Documents Needed

  • Valid study permit

    Confirms your authorized status as a student in Canada while you're abroad.

  • Valid entry document (TRV or eTA, as applicable)

    This — not the study permit itself — is what lets you re-enter Canada, so check it's still valid before you fly.

Step-by-Step

If you're on a study permit and want to fly home (e.g. to India) for a short trip such as winter break, group members agreed you generally don't need to apply for a brand new travel visa.

What group members advised:
  1. Your study permit itself isn't what lets you re-enter Canada — that's the job of your underlying entry document, i.e. your stamped visa (visitor visa) or eTA, whichever applies to your passport.

  2. As long as that entry document is still valid on your return date, your current visa is sufficient — there's no need to file a separate travel visa application just because you're leaving temporarily for the holidays.


Takeaway: before booking your trip, double-check the expiry date on your visa/eTA (not just your study permit), since that's the document that actually needs to be valid when you land back in Canada.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Do: Check the expiry date of your TRV/eTA (not just your study permit) before traveling — that's the document that governs re-entry.
  • Tip: A valid study permit alone does not let you re-enter Canada; you also need a valid visa or eTA.

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