I’m currently in my second year at a private college in Ontario, but I’ve been accepted to a new program at a public university in BC. I’m switching schools for better career outcomes and lower tuition. I know I need to update my study permit, but I’m nervous about how this affects my PGWP eligibility.

I’ve already got my new letter of acceptance and confirmed my enrollment. But I’m unsure about the next steps. I want to make sure my study history stays strong and continuous—no gaps, no red flags.

Here’s what I’m checking:

1. Does my new school have to be a designated learning institution (DLI) with a valid PGWP eligibility?

2. Should I apply for a study permit amendment before transferring, or can I wait until I start?

3. How do I properly document my withdrawal from the first school and my new enrollment?

4. If I take a short break between programs (even just a month), will that hurt my PGWP?

I’ve heard some people lost their PGWP rights after switching schools without proper paperwork. I don’t want to risk it. I’ve kept copies of my acceptance letters, proof of enrollment, and my original study permit. But I’m not sure if that’s enough.

What’s worked for others? If you’ve changed schools mid-study, did you update IRCC? Did you keep your study gap under 120 days? Did you keep a clear audit trail?

If you’ve been through this—especially with a program change, province switch, or private to public school—please share your experience.

Just let us know your province, your current status (student, grad, etc.), and roughly when the switch happened.

No need to share your passport, UCI, or bank details—just keep it safe and general. Let’s help each other stay on track.