Canada sets limits on the number of study permits for international students.
Today, the Canadian government announced the establishment of a limit on the number of study permit applications for international students in order to stabilize growth. This will be in effect for two years. Details can be found on the Canadian government website.
For 2024, this limit is expected to result in the approval of approximately 360,000 study permits, a 35% decrease compared to 2023 .
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The renewal of study permits will not be affected.
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Students pursuing master's or doctoral programs, as well as high school students, will not be among those subject to restrictions.
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Students who already have study permits will not be affected.
To implement this limit, starting January 22, 2024, all study permit applications submitted to IRCC will also require a confirmation letter from the province or territory . Provinces and territories are expected to establish the process for issuing confirmation letters to students no later than March 31, 2024.
The Graduate Workforce Program has changed its eligibility criteria:
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From September 1, 2024, international students beginning a program under a curriculum licensing agreement (a private college licensed to deliver the educational program of an affiliated public college) will no longer be eligible to apply for a work permit after graduation.
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Graduates of master's and other short-graduate-level programs will soon be able to apply for a three-year work permit.
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In the coming weeks, the Open Work Permit will only be available to spouses of international students in master's and doctoral programs . Spouses of international students at other levels of study, including bachelor's and associate's programs, will no longer be eligible .
This is a summary of news based on official announcements from the Canadian government.
So what are the paths to Canadian permanent residency (PR) when student policies are becoming increasingly stringent? Stay tuned for our seminar with immigration experts this coming February!
Link to register for the online seminar.
