22/01/2024
International students studying in Canada should be aware of three critical updates to the country's study permit regulations:
1. The maximum duration of study permits for international students is now capped at approximately 364000 approvals this year, at two years.
2. Besides the study permit, applicants must provide an attestation from the province.
3. Students enrolled in master's or doctoral programs can only apply for an open work permit for their spouse. Students enrolled in undergraduate college programs will no longer be eligible.
The cap on study permit duration is determined by the population of the province where the student is studying, and international students need to be aware of this regulation to meet the requirements and expectations for studying in Canada.
"Starting September 1, 2024, international students who enroll in a study program that is part of a curriculum licensing arrangement will be ineligible to receive a post-graduation work permit upon completing their program. Such students attend a private college authorized to deliver the curriculum of a linked public college under the curriculum licensing agreements. Although these programs have grown substantially in attracting international students in recent years, they have less oversight than public colleges. They are seen as a loophole regarding post-graduation work permit eligibility. In addition, master's graduates and other short graduate-level program graduates will soon be eligible to apply for a 3-year work permit. The current criteria base the length of a post-graduation work permit solely on the duration of an individual's study program. This hinders master's graduates as it limits their time to gain work experience and potentially transition to permanent residency".
International students enrich our communities and are a critical part of Canada’s social, cultural and economic fabric. In recent years, the integrity of the international student system has been threatened. Some institutions have significantly increased their intakes to drive revenues, and more s...
