Important Notice for International Students
Hello World! Today, we would like to provide information on significant changes to the International Student Programs announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on January 22, 2024.
This is a must-read for those who plan to apply for a Study Permit or Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) in the future!
New Rules for International Students
The announcement made by IRCC includes the following changes:
Cap on Study Permits
IRCC announced that it will limit the number of Study Permits issued annually for the next two years; for 2024, the cap is expected to result in approximately 360,000 approved Study Permits, a decrease of 35% from 2023. In the spirit of fairness, the number of students accepted by each state and territory will be determined by the population of that area.
International students for master’s and doctoral degrees and elementary and secondary education are not included in the cap. Also, current Study Permit holders and Study Permit renewals will not be affected.
Additional Document for Study Permit Applications
As of January 22, 2024, Study Permit applications submitted to IRCC require an attestation letter from a province or territory. Each province or territory is developing a process to get an attestation letter. These processes are expected to be in place by March 31, 2024.
Changes to PGWP Eligibility
The two changes regarding PGWP eligibility are as follows:
- Starting September 1, 2024, international students engaged in public college programs at private institutions will no longer qualify for the PGWP.
- Regardless of program length, graduates of the master’s degree program will be eligible to apply for a three-year Work Permit. (details are TBD)
Changes to Spousal Open Work Permit (OWP) Eligibility
OWPs will only be available to spouses of international students in master’s and doctoral programs. The spouses of international students in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible. More details, including the implementation date, are expected to be announced shortly.
For more information on this announcement, please check the link below.
Study Permit Applications on Hold
According to the IRCC website, any application received on or after January 22, 2024, without an attestation letter, will not be accepted except for the following exemptions.
Currently, there are no details on how to obtain an attestation letter. This means that new Study Permit applications may not be submitted to IRCC for the time being. Each province and territories will establish a process for issuing attestation letters to students by no later than March 31, 2024.
IRCC will update its website with more information as it becomes available from each province and territory.
Students who do not need an Attestation Letter:
- a minor child applying to study in a primary or secondary school (kindergarten to grade 12)
- a student applying for a Masters, PhD (or other post-graduate program; details are TBD)
- a student applying to extend a Study Permit
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Effective January 22, 2024, most students applying for a Study Permit must submit an attestation letter, which could have a significant impact on students who were considering applying for a Study Permit.
If you have any concerns about your Study Permit application, please feel free to contact us here.
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