There are big changes coming to Canada’s international student program in 2024.
Key changes include:
We have updated the eligibility criteria for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Updated cost of living requirements. Closure of Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express. Place a cap on applications for study permits. Stricter rules regarding study permits. New regulations regarding off-campus working hours for international students. Updated regulations regarding open work permits for spouses.
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This article reviews the changes in detail.
Most of the changes are in line with the federal government’s goal of reducing the number of temporary residents.
Updates to PGWP eligibility criteria and regulations
Changes to Curriculum License Agreement PGWP
On 22 January, IRCC announced that international students who begin a program of study that is part of a curriculum license agreement will no longer be eligible for PGWP from September.
These are arrangements that empower private universities to offer programs at connected public universities to their students.
However, IRCC in March extended the September deadline to May 15.
3-year PGWP for master’s students
On January 22, IRCC announced that master’s degree graduates will be eligible for a three-year work permit.
Prior to the change, PGWP was granted for up to three years based on the length of the master’s degree.
This change is beneficial because it makes master’s students with a program duration of two years or less eligible for longer-term work permits.
This gives them more time to gain work experience and transition to permanent residence.
This change went into effect on February 15th.
Introducing language requirements for PGWP
In September, it was announced that PGWP applicants will need to present a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 7 for university graduates and a CLB score of 5 for university graduates starting November 1st.
Field of study requirement introduced for PGWP qualification
On September 18, IRCC announced that in order to qualify for the PGWP, international students will need to graduate in an academic field related to a profession that has a long-term shortage.
*These field of study requirements do not apply to graduates of the university’s bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees. They apply to graduates of university programs and university vocational programs.
On October 11, IRCC announced details about which programs will be eligible for the PGWP.
The research field is related to a field with a long-term talent shortage. these are
Agriculture and agri-food. Health Care; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). trade; and transportation.
International students who applied for a study permit before 1 November 2024 do not need to meet the field of study requirements to qualify for the PGWP. However, if you apply for a new study permit after this date (for example, to change schools or programs), the field of study requirements will apply.
Updated cost of living requirements
On January 1st, the cost of living requirements for study permit applicants were increased.
In 2024, the per applicant requirement increases from $10,000 to $20,635. Applicants must have these funds in addition to covering the first year’s tuition and travel expenses.
The new cost of living requirements were applied to all study permit applications received on or after January 1, 2024.
Closure of Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express
On November 8th, IRCC ended Student Direct Stream (SDS) with immediate effect.
SDS was established in 2018 to expedite study permit applications for international students from 14 countries including India, China, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
IRCC’s standard processing time for applications through SDS was 20 calendar days.
However, typical processing times vary by country and are usually longer. For example, the current processing time for study permits for applicants from Pakistan is 10 weeks.
On the same day, IRCC also announced the closure of Nigeria Student Express (NSE), an SDS-like program for study permit applicants in Nigeria.
Restrictions on study permit applications
On January 22nd, IRCC announced the acceptance limit for study permit applications from international students.
In 2024, this cap is expected to result in approximately 360,000 net new research permits being approved, a 35% decrease from 2023.
In April, Immigration Minister Mark Miller further elaborated on this figure, saying the target for approved study permits in 2024 was 485,000. IRCC arrived at 360,000 by subtracting 97,000 students (the number of students IRCC expected to apply for an extension) and leaving a buffer for other fluctuations.
On September 18, IRCC announced that the number of study permits for international students will be reduced in 2025, based on a 10% reduction from the 2024 target of 485,000.
In 2025, this will amount to 437,000 study permits issued.
The Immigration Levels Plan 2025-27, published in October, set out targets for temporary residents arriving in 2025, 2026 and 2027, including international students.
The target number of new international students in 2025 is 305,900. This is for new arrivals only and does not apply to renewals or extensions of study permits for students already in Canada.
Stricter rules regarding study permits
To implement this cap, IRCC introduced the Provincial Authorization Letter (PAL) on 22 January.
PALs will be issued to international students by states and territories as proof that the student has been creditably enrolled and is being accounted for under the new cap.
IRCC stated that as of January 22, 2024, a certificate is required for all study permit applications submitted to IRCC.
In March, further details were announced to exempt some students from the PAL requirement. According to the update, PAL has the following requirements:
Most post-secondary study permit applicants. Most graduate programs that do not award a degree (such as certificate programs or graduate diplomas). International students who are not included in the exception list below.
PAL is not required in the following cases:
Elementary and junior high school students. Master’s or PhD students* Visiting or exchange students within Canada studying at DLI. Study and work permit holders within Canada, including existing study permit holders applying for extensions. Family members of study or work permit holders residing in Canada. Students who have already been approved for a study permit and are planning to travel to Canada for an upcoming program. and students whose application is received by January 22, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. EST.
*On September 18, IRCC announced that PAL is also required for master’s and doctoral students.
New requirements for international students transferring
Also, on November 15, IRCC announced that international students who wish to change schools must apply for a new study permit.
Prior to this change, students could change schools on the same study permit as long as they updated their online account status and notified IRCC.
On December 13, IRCC announced that some international students transferring in winter or spring 2025 will be able to start their studies before a new study permit is issued, provided they meet certain conditions.
They should still have submitted an application for a new study permit.
*Undergraduate and professional students who change programs and apply for a new study permit after November 1st are subject to field of study requirements (see above).
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New regulations regarding off-campus working hours for international students.
On April 29, Professor Miller confirmed that temporary pandemic measures regarding off-campus work hours for international students will not be updated.
As a temporary pandemic measure, on October 7, 2022, IRCC allowed foreigners with study permits to work more than 20 hours a week without a cap while they were in school.
With the end of this temporary measure, pre-pandemic regulations came back into effect, restricting foreign nationals with study permits to only work 20 hours a week off-campus during their studies.
The government has announced that this 20-hour limit will be extended to 24 hours in the fall. The new regulation went into effect on Nov. 15 and allows international students to work 24 hours a day off campus during school hours.
Updated regulations on open work permits for spouses
On January 22, IRCC limited spouse open work permits to spouses of international students in the following programs:
master’s program; and doctoral program.
Prior to this change, spouses of international students participating in university and undergraduate programs were eligible for spousal open work permits.
This took place on March 19th. At the same time, IRCC announced exceptions for some undergraduate programs.
Spouses or partners of undergraduate students enrolled in one of the University’s professional degree programs may be eligible for Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP).
Dental surgeon (DDS, DMD). Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctorate (LLB, JD, BCL). Doctor of Medicine (MD). Optometrist (OD). Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm). Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN, BNSc). Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.). Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng., BE, BASc).
In September, additional restrictions on open work permits for spouses were announced, limiting open work permit eligibility to spouses of master’s students enrolled in programs of at least 16 months duration. This policy is not in effect at this time.
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