Immigration Corner | Updates on Canada study permit application rules

Dear Ms. Powell,

Thank you for your usual updates about Canada immigration. I had plans to study in Canada in January and I am waiting on the acceptance letter to apply for the study permit. However, I hear that there are changes again. I am just wondering what the changes are, and if I should be looking at other countries, such as the UK or USA, to do my master’s degree. I look forward to you early reply.

AR

Dear AR,

Canada is an excellent country for postgraduate students. However, your choice should be based on factors such as your long-term career and family goals, as well as whether the current and projected immigration system will be able to meet those needs. I will outline below some factors to consider.

Since January 2024, Canada has been re-evaluating the immigration system, which led to major changes in the international student programme and the Temporary Foreign Worker programme.

The government announced recently that over one million study permits were issued in 2023. Many argue that the influx of students and temporary foreign workers has a negative impact on the housing market; and further, there are concerns that despite the number of persons who were arriving in Canada, there were still labour shortages in critical sectors.

CAP

To address these issues, the Canadian government has imposed a cap on the number of study permits that will be issued each year. The government has set a limit on the number of study permit applications that will be issued to 437,000 in 2025. That means that once Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada has reached the threshold, then they will no longer issue study permits until the following year. They have also announced that the intake cap for 2026 will remain the same as 2025.

You should note that there are new application forms, and each applicant must include an attestation letter from the province for the application to be accepted. Only students enrolling in schools from kindergarten to high school, a candidate for a master’s or doctoral degree, or anyone requesting an extension of their study permit are exempted from the requirement to produce an attestation letter with their application.

NOVEMBER 2024

On completion of your studies in Canada, students usually look forward to receiving a postgraduate work permit (PGWP), as this allows them to get valuable Canadian work experience and increase their chances of obtaining an invitation to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry System.

The government has now introduced a language requirement for PGWP applicants. Effective November 2024, PGWP applicants will need to submit language test results that are above the minimum pass mark. For university graduates, the requirement is Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7; and for college graduates, the minimum is a CLB level 5. The acceptable language tests are the IELTS, General Training, CELPIP General and the Pearson Test for English.

RESTRICTION ON WORK PERMITS

The length of the PGWP work permit will now be linked to the labour market shortages and there will be restrictions on the work permits that will be issued to spouses of international students and foreign workers.

Only spouses of international students who are pursuing master’s, PhD, or programmes lasting over 16 months will be eligible for work permits. It is also expected that work permits will only be issued to spouses who are able to work in management, professional occupations and in-demand occupations.

The government hopes that these changes will address the challenges faced by employers who are still struggling to find labourers in some sectors; along with strengthening the Canadian immigration system by ensuring that international students, as well as their families, are properly supported and poised for success.

Deidre S. Powell is a Canadian lawyer, mediator and notary public. You may connect with her on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. Tel: 613-695-8777.