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Can I leave Canada and come back on my permit or status?

A work or study permit lets you work or study in Canada, but it is not a visa or a travel document: to come back you also need the right entry document (a visitor visa or an eTA, unless you are exempt). A visitor record lets you stay longer, but it is not a visa and does not guarantee re-entry. Leaving while an extension is processed changes what you can do when you return. A few questions find IRCC's rule for you.

Answer for your situation

Every quote below was checked word for word on IRCC’s own pages on October 24, 2026. Each answer names its source page and that page’s date.

What IRCC says, situation by situation

Yes

Yes: coming straight back from the US or St. Pierre and Miquelon, you don't need a visa or an eTA

This applies only while your status in Canada is still valid, and only if you visited nowhere but the US or St. Pierre and Miquelon.

In IRCC’s words:
“someone who has valid status in Canada (for example, visitor, student or worker) and are re-entering Canada after only visiting the US or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon”
“You don’t need a visa or an eTA to travel to Canada if you are one of the following:”
Source: IRCC, page dated July 31, 2026
Yes

Yes: US citizens and US permanent residents don't need a visa or an eTA

In IRCC’s words:
“a US national or permanent resident”
“You don’t need a visa or an eTA to travel to Canada if you are one of the following:”
Source: IRCC, page dated July 31, 2026
Yes, if you have the entry document your passport needs.

It depends on your passport and how you travel

In IRCC’s words:
“What you need to travel to Canada will depend on”

IRCC: what you need to enter Canada

Source: IRCC, page dated July 31, 2026
Yes

Yes: by land or sea you need no eTA, only a valid passport

In IRCC’s words:
“If you’re a citizen of an eTA-required country or territory listed above and arriving by car, bus, train or boat (including a cruise ship), you don’t need an eTA to enter Canada. You still need a valid passport.”
Source: IRCC, page dated July 31, 2026
Yes

Yes, by air with a valid eTA and passport

In IRCC’s words:
“You need an eTA and a valid passport to board your flight to Canada if you’re a citizen of any of the countries or territories listed below. You don’t need a visitor visa.”
Source: IRCC, page dated July 31, 2026
Yes

Yes, by air with a valid eTA (most students already have one)

In IRCC’s words:
“an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) (if you plan to travel to Canada by air)”
“If you received your initial study permit on or after August 1, 2015 , you already have an eTA. We automatically issued it to you when we approved your initial study permit. It’s valid for 5 years or until your passport expires. See your letter of introduction for details.”
“You do not need an eTA if you arrive by land or sea (for example, by car or on a bus, train or boat).”
“A study permit is not a travel document. It does not give you the authorization to travel to Canada.”
“Having an eTA, a visa or proof of lawful permanent residence status of the U.S, along with your study permit, does not guarantee that you can return to Canada. You must prove to the border services officer that you meet all the requirements before you can re-enter Canada.”
Source: IRCC, page dated September 25, 2026
Yes

Yes, with your valid visitor visa and valid study permit

In IRCC’s words:
“You’ll need a valid visa and a valid study permit to return to Canada to study. You don’t need a valid visa if you return directly from a visit only to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon.”
“Yes. To return to Canada to study, you must have a valid travel document.”
“A study permit is not a travel document. It does not give you the authorization to travel to Canada.”
“Having an eTA, a visa or proof of lawful permanent residence status of the U.S, along with your study permit, does not guarantee that you can return to Canada. You must prove to the border services officer that you meet all the requirements before you can re-enter Canada.”
Source: IRCC, page dated September 25, 2026
Yes

Yes, with your valid visitor visa: your work permit alone is not enough

In IRCC’s words:
“A work permit isn’t a travel document. It doesn’t give you authorization to travel to or re-enter Canada.”
“Depending on your citizenship and nationality and how you plan to travel, you may need either”
“Having an eTA or a visa doesn’t guarantee that you can re-enter Canada. You must show the border services officer that you meet all the requirements before you can re-enter.”
Source: IRCC, page dated July 17, 2026
Yes

Yes, while your visitor visa is valid

In IRCC’s words:
“If you already have a valid visitor visa, you can use that to travel to Canada until it expires.”
“A visa officer has discretion to issue you a single-entry visa or multiple entry visa, and decide how long it will be valid for.”
Source: IRCC, page dated May 26, 2026
No, unless you get a new visitor visa before leaving.

Only with a new visitor visa: apply from inside Canada before you leave

A work or study permit holder whose visa has expired, will expire, or was for 1 entry can apply for a new one from inside Canada; IRCC asks you to apply at least 2 months ahead and not to leave until you have it.

In IRCC’s words:
“You can only apply for a visitor visa from inside Canada if you meet all of these criteria:”
“hold a valid study or work permit”
“have an existing visitor visa that’s expired, or is about to expire, or that was valid for only 1 entry”
“apply at least 2 months before you plan to leave Canada”
“not leave Canada until you get your visitor visa”
“We won’t automatically issue you a visitor visa if you extend your work or study permit.”
Source: IRCC, page dated August 17, 2026
No

Not on that visa: a visitor would need a new one, applied for from outside Canada

Applying for a visitor visa from inside Canada is only for people who hold a valid study or work permit, so a visitor would need to apply from outside Canada.

In IRCC’s words:
“You can only apply for a visitor visa from inside Canada if you meet all of these criteria:”
“hold a valid study or work permit”
“You must follow the process to apply for a visa from outside Canada instead of the inside Canada process outlined below.”
Source: IRCC, page dated August 17, 2026
Yes, but you may return as a visitor and can't study yet.

You can leave and come back, but you may return as a visitor and not study until the new permit is approved

In IRCC’s words:
“If you have applied to extend your study permit and plan to travel outside Canada while your application is in process, you can leave and come back. However, one of two things will happen when you return to Canada:”
“You may be allowed to come back to Canada as a visitor , if Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has not yet made a decision on your study permit application. If this is the case, you cannot study until you get your new study permit .”
“You may be allowed to come back to Canada as a student, if the officer at the port of entry determines that IRCC issued your study permit while you were away.”
“Note: It is possible that you will not be able to enter Canada. The final decision is always made by the officer at the port of entry.”

IRCC: the student guide (IMM 5552), leaving Canada while you wait

Source: IRCC, page dated September 25, 2026
Yes, but you may return as a visitor and can't work yet.

You can leave and come back, but you may return as a visitor and not work until the renewal is approved

In IRCC’s words:
“If you applied to renew your work permit before it expired, you can leave Canada and come back, but there are some things you need to know.”
“If your application is still being processed, you may be allowed to re-enter Canada as a visitor.”
“You can’t work until your work permit renewal has been approved.”
“If your work permit renewal application was approved while you were away, you may be allowed to re-enter Canada as a worker .”
“If you need to travel urgently and your work permit is still being processed, you can request urgent processing .”
Source: IRCC, page dated July 17, 2026
Yes, if you use a refugee travel document, not to your home country.

With a refugee travel document, but not to your country of citizenship

In IRCC’s words:
“They’re issued to ... Convention refugees ... protected persons”
“There are 2 types of travel documents non-Canadians can use when travelling:”
“You cannot use these travel documents to go to your country of citizenship.”
“The issuing office decides how long your travel document is valid for.”

IRCC: apply for a refugee travel document

Source: IRCC, page dated April 27, 2026

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Written by AHI Life from IRCC’s own pages; the quotes are IRCC’s words, re-read on their pages every day. General information, not legal advice, and not yet reviewed by a licensed consultant (RCIC). Only a licensed representative may charge you for immigration advice.