Canada has announced major changes to its international student policy. The new policy includes a range of measures, from reducing study permits by a third for 2024 to restricting postgraduate work permits (PGWP). This is part of a wide range of measures being introduced in the sector.
The changes were announced by Marc Miller, minister for immigration, refugees and citizenship.
Here are the changes:
- A Study Permit Cap: The major change is the cap in new study permits issued for international students to study in Canada. For the academic year 2024, which involves a number of intakes, the number will be capped at 360,000, which is a 35-percent reduction from the numbers of 2023.
- Each of the country’s provinces and territories will be given a cap. The cap will be determined by the population of the province/territory as a percentage of the national population. However, this means some provinces, such as Ontario, may see a larger decline because they have been receiving a disproportionately high number of students relative to their population percentage.
- Cap Exclusions: The cap, however, does not affect study permit renewals, master’s and doctoral students, elementary and secondary students, and current permit holders.
- PGWP Restrictions: From September 1, 2024, students in curriculum licensing arrangements will be ineligible for post-graduation work permits. Curriculum licensing arrangements involve private schools providing the curriculum under a licence agreement with an associated public college.
- Open Work Permit Restrictions: Also, going forward, open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students in master’s and doctoral programs or other specialized programs. The spouses of international students in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible.
- PGWP Easing for Some: But Graduates of master’s and short graduate programs will be eligible for a 3-year work permit.
- Letter of Attestation for Study Permit Applications: Starting January 22, 2024, study permit applications must include an attestation letter from a province or territory.
The current set of measures will last for two years. The government will issue the new cap for 2025 at the end of this year.
The latest set of measures are part of the changes the Canadian government has introduced in recent months in the international student sector. Starting this year, the annual living cost requirement for international students has more than doubled, from the previous 10,000 dollars per year.
The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) now also checks with schools to authenticate letters of acceptance (LOA) before deciding on the study permit application.
