International Student Reminder System

 

You are responsible for maintaining your immigration status and following Canadian immigration regulations, and we are here to support you.

The UBC International Student Reminder System was created to help you stay on top of your immigration document expiry dates by emailing you reminders so you can take action before your documents expire. The system was redesigned in August 2024. If you added your expiry dates in the previous Student Service Centre reminder system, you’ll need to enter them again in the new system.

Documents tracked through the system

How the system works

1. Add your document expiry dates
You will get an email asking you to add your document expiry dates into the International Student Reminder System (ISRS) or you can enter your details on this page at any time. The email subject is “Action required: enter your immigration document expiry dates”. Sign in with your UBC Campus Wide Login, enter your document expiry dates in YYYY-MM-DD format, then click “submit”.
You will only receive reminder emails for the documents you’ve entered into the Reminder System. US permanent residents and citizens should leave the TRV/eTA field blank.

2. Get a confirmation email

After you’ve entered a document expiry date, you will get a confirmation email that your submission was received for each document you’ve provided.

3.Get reminders
If you entered an expiry date, you will receive email reminders  according to the following timelines for each document: 

  • Passport: 6 months; 5 months; 4 months; 3 months; 2 months; final reminder 1 month in advance
  • Study Permit: 4 months; 3 months; 2 months; final reminder 1 month in advance
  • Temporary Resident Visa / Electronic Travel Authorization:  4 months; 3 months; 2 months; final reminder 1 month in advance
  • Medical Services Plan (BC Services Card):  4 months; 3 months; 2 months; final reminder 1 month in advance.

You will also receive an email the day after your documents expire asking you to input your new document expiry dates into the system.

4.Extend your document(s)
Follow the instructions in the email to extend your document(s), and be sure to apply well in advance before they expire. See the table below for timelines. 

5.Enter your new document(s) expiry dates
After you’ve extended your document(s), enter the new expiry dates in the International Student Reminder System. You will then get reminders as per above. 

Tips 

  • Add your documents expiry dates in your personal calendar and take note of the dates you took action to extend your document(s).
  • Visit the International Student Guide to get up-to-date information and plan ahead to extend your documents.

Need to edit your submission? See our FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS section.

Extending your documents

Canadian immigration documents cannot be issued past the expiry date of your passport, so you’ll need to extend this first, if it expires soon.

If you extend your study permit or apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit, you will need to wait for your new study or work permit, then extend your TRV (if you need one), MSP and SIN since these are based on your study or work permit. 

See the table below to help you plan your document extensions.

At least six months before expiration date.

Passport

Three to four months before expiration date.

Study permit Co-op work permit

Your TRV is based on your study permit. You can only extend your TRV after you receive your extended study permit or a Post-Graduation Work Permit. Plan ahead if you want to travel outside Canada. 

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)

If you’ve never applied for MSP, you can apply anytime. You can only extend your MSP after you receive your extended study permit or a Post-Graduation Work Permit. If your study permit is expiring and your study or work permit application has not been processed yet, you must take action and request temporary coverage.

BC MSP

If you’ve never applied for a SIN, you can apply anytime. You can only extend your SIN after you receive your extended study permit or a Post-Graduation Work Permit. If your study permit is expiring and your study or work permit application has not been processed yet, you can continue to use your SIN on maintained status.

Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Frequently asked questions

How to Edit your submission in the International Student Reminder System

  1.       Navigate to the “Edit Submission” link here.
  2.       Navigate to the “Edit” button in the top-right corner of the screen (screenshot for reference).
  3.       Re-enter your expiry dates into the form.
  4.       Click “submit”
  5.       You will receive another email confirming that you have submitted expiry dates ([1] email per document).

No. The Reminder System was designed as a benefit for you as an international student, and the expiry dates you provide will not be reported to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) (formerly Citizenship and Immigration Canada – CIC) or any third party.

You will receive email reminders for the following documents (if expiry dates were entered into the system for that document) according to the following timelines: 

Passport: 6 months; 5 months; 4 months; 3 months; 2 months; final reminder 1 month before expiry

Study Permit: 4 months; 3 months; 2 months; final reminder 1 month before expiry

Temporary Resident Visa / Electronic Travel Authorization:  4 months; 3 months; 2 months; final reminder 1 month before expiry

Medical Services Plan (BC Services Card):  4 months; 3 months; 2 months; final reminder 1 month before expiry

You will also receive an email the day after your documents expire asking you to enter your new expiry dates into the system. 

Start with the information and tutorials on the International Student Guide. If you still have questions, contact an International Student Advisor at the Global Engagement Office.