On 22 January 2023, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada announced some critical changes to study permits for international students in Canada as follows:
- Cap on the number of international students that will study in Canada. Only 360,000 international students may be approved to study in DLIs in Canada.
- In addition to a Letter of Acceptance issued by a designated learning institution, applicants for study permits must obtain a Provincial Attestation Letter from the province where they intend to study.
- Effective 1 September 2024, programs undertaken under a curriculum licensing agreement with public-private-partnership arrangements will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work permit.
- Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWP) will no longer be issued to applicants whose spouses are in undergraduate and college programs. SOWP will only be available to applicants whose spouse is in a Master’s, PhD, or other specialized programs like Medicine and Law.
- While the provinces are working out the framework for issuing the required Provincial Attestation Letters, there will be a pause in applications for study permits until 31 March 2024, when a clear picture of the new processes will emerge.
Advise:
Stay calm, whether you are already in Canada or preparing to come to Canada as an international student. The Canadian government is always mindful of the overall impact of its policies on Canadians and temporary residents of Canada.