Studying abroad is a fantastic method for international students to broaden their horizons, obtain foreign qualifications, and gain professional experience.
It may also serve as a springboard for building a stable life in a country with greater living standards. One of the most sought-after study-abroad locations worldwide is Canada!
Suppose you are considering relocating to Canada as a student and have begun looking at Canadian university and college options.
Please be informed that the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) and study permit requirements have changed, as announced by the government. This article will discuss the various new policies to note before relocating to Canada as a student.
New 2024 Rules for International Students Coming to Canada
Below are the changes that may impact international students intending to study in Canada:
- The temporary federal cap on international student intake: The number of study permits approved in 2024 is expected to decrease by 35 per cent compared to 2023. The cap for 2025 will be decided at the end of 2024.
- Changes to Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility criteria: International students starting their study programs in private colleges delivering licensed curriculum on or after September 1, 2024, will no longer qualify for the PGWP.
- More extended PGWPs for master’s graduates: Students who’ve completed master’s programs in Canada will soon be able to get three-year PGWPs.
- Changes to Spousal Open Work Permit eligibility: Only spouses of international students in master’s, doctoral, and professional programs will qualify for open work permits.
- Updated cost-of-living requirements for students: Starting January 1, 2024, international students must show they have at least $20,635 (previously $10,000) to cover their living expenses (However, the requirement is not the same for students moving to Quebec).
1. Temporary Cap on Canada Study Permits
On January 22, 2024, the federal government said the number of authorized study permit applications would be capped at two years. In 2024, 360,000 new study permits for international students will be granted.
Additionally, each province and territory will cap the number of new international students enrolled in undergraduate programs. Study visa allocations will be severely reduced in the provinces experiencing the greatest unsustainable growth in international students.
For example, a 50% decrease in the acceptance rate of study permits is anticipated in Ontario. Universities and institutions under their control may also be subject to study permit caps set by the provinces and territories.
International students seeking master’s or doctoral degrees in Canada will not be subject to the caps, and current international students renewing their study permits in Canada will not be impacted either.
Why is Canada Implementing International Student Cap?
The number of study permits issued by the Canadian government has grown dramatically during the past ten years. Sadly, the infrastructure needed to handle this surge in international students has yet to keep up, straining the housing and medical systems.
Furthermore, several private universities have increased the number of international students they admit without raising admissions or curriculum requirements to boost profits.
This new study permit cap allows the Canadian government more time to develop a framework for trusted institutions. This framework will incentivize designated learning institutions (DLIs) to uphold high standards of instruction and help eradicate dishonest actors from the education industry.
Additionally, this will guarantee that international students who come to Canada get the help they require to excel in their studies and other spheres of life.
The Impact of International Student Cap on Study Permits
If you’re an international student, you might be worried about how this new cap will affect your chances of being granted a study permit in Canada.
Admittance to Canadian DLIs is anticipated to become increasingly competitive as fewer study permits are granted. Applying to a master’s or doctorate program in Canada does not impact your prospects of being given a study permit.
Students may require assistance to be eligible for a study permit if they plan to enrol in undergraduate programs leading to a bachelor’s degree, diploma, or certificate.
Additionally, students interested in studying in Ontario, British Columbia, or Nova Scotia may have to compete more fiercely because the number of study permits granted in these regions is anticipated to be significantly reduced.
Students applying for study permits after January 22, 2024, must additionally obtain a provincial attestation letter for the province or territory in which they intend to study to verify the validity of their application.
This document will be in addition to the other documents that students must submit, such as the evidence of financial assistance and the Letter of Acceptance (LOA).
Nonetheless, the federal government has granted provinces and territories until March 31, 2024, to establish a procedure for providing attestation letters to international students.
This can result in longer processing periods and delays in the study permit application procedure for some summer intake students in 2024.
Note: International students coming to Quebec to study were already required to submit a Quebec Acceptance Certificate as part of their study permit application. These students will not require any additional attestation letters.
2. Changes to Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) Eligibility
A Post-Graduate Work Permit is an open work permit that may be issued to international students who have completed an eligible study program in Canada.
Previously, most international students who had completed a Canadian study program for more than eight months were eligible for Post-Graduation Work Permits.
However, starting September 1, 2024, international students who start a study program offered by a public-private partnership (PPP) institution as part of a curriculum licensing agreement will not be eligible for PGWPs after graduation.
Why will Public-Private Partnership Institution Graduates Not Qualify for Work Permits?
Under curriculum licensing arrangements, private colleges deliver a curriculum created by an associated public college but are subject to relatively less regulatory oversight.
International students attend in-person classes at these PPP institutions, and the school pays a portion of the tuition fees it collects to the associated public college.
The Government of Canada has accused some PPP institutions of not delivering sufficient educational value to international students. As such, it has announced these measures to protect the education system and international students from being taken advantage of for huge profits.
3. Extended PGWPs for Master’s Graduates
Another significant change to the PGWP program is that graduates of master’s degree programs will now qualify for a three-year work permit!
Previously, the length of a PGWP was determined by the size of the applicant’s study program, so graduates of master’s programs were only eligible for one—or two-year PGWPs.
Increasing the length of post-graduate work permits issued to master’s graduates would give them more time to gather Canadian work experience and qualify for permanent residence programs.
4. Spousal Open Work Permit Eligibility
Previously, spouses of international students enrolled in approved full-time study programs in Canada were qualified for spousal open work permits (SOWPs).
However, in the future, spouses of master’s and doctorate students and those enrolled in professional programs like law and medicine will be the only people eligible for open work permits under section C42.
Open work permits will no longer be available to spouses of international students in undergraduate and other college programs.
5. Updated Cost of Living Requirement for International Students
Starting January 1, 2024, the cost of living requirement for international students has been increased from $10,000 to $20,635, not including tuition fees.
Also, the minimum proof of financial support required to study in Quebec will be $15,078 (except for international students under the age of 18, who will need to show access to at least $7,541).
Students applying for a Canadian study permit on or after January 1, 2024, must show sufficient proof of financial support to meet the revised cost of living requirements.
Remember that, as an international student, you do not need to pay these funds to the IRCC or your academic institution. You need this money to pay for your living expenses during your studies.
Why is there an Increase in the Cost of Living Requirement for International Students?
The cost of living criteria were revised and increased to give a more accurate picture of what it costs to live in Canada and ensure that international students have enough money to cover their basic needs.
The cost of living standards is anticipated to be updated annually. There have been stories of international students in Canada having financial difficulties.
They will find it simpler to concentrate on their studies without worrying about money if they can access additional funding, especially because housing and other living expenditures are rising in Canada.
The recently announced annual cap on the number of study permits granted may increase competition for international students applying for admission and obtaining study permits in Canada.
On the other hand, this will allow the government to monitor educational establishments more closely and guarantee that overseas students obtain a better education.
Modifications to the PGWP and open work permit programs will guarantee that Canadian firms have access to top talent and facilitate international talent’s search for suitable employment in Canada. These changes will help make the international student program in Canada more robust and sustainable.