Changes for international students

Ottawa, January 22, 2024


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 students have been arriving in Canada without the proper supports they need to succeed. Rapid increases in the number of international students arriving in Canada also puts pressure on housing, health care and other services. As we work to better protect international students from bad actors and support sustainable population growth in Canada, the government is moving forward with measures to stabilize the number of international students in Canada.

The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced today that the Government of Canada will set an intake cap on international student permit applications to stabilize new growth for a period of two years. For 2024, the cap is expected to result in approximately 360,000 approved study permits, a decrease of 35% from 2023. In the spirit of fairness, individual provincial and territorial caps have been established, weighted by population, which will result in much more significant decreases in provinces where the international student population has seen the most unsustainable growth. Study permit renewals will not be impacted. Those pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees, and elementary and secondary education are not included in the cap. Current study permit holders will not be affected.

IRCC will allocate a portion of the cap to each province and territory, who will then distribute the allocation among their designated learning institutions. To implement the cap, as of January 22, 2024, every study permit application submitted to IRCC will also require an attestation letter from a province or territory. Provinces and territories are expected to establish a process for issuing attestation letters to students by no later than March 31, 2024.

These temporary measures will be in place for two years, and the number of new study permit applications that will be accepted in 2025 will be re-assessed at the end of this year. During this period, the Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces and territories, designated learning institutions and national education stakeholders on developing a sustainable path forward for international students, including finalizing a recognized institution framework, determining long-term sustainable levels of international students and ensuring post-secondary institutions are able to provide adequate levels of student housing.

In order to better align the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, we are changing the eligibility criteria:

  • Starting September 1, 2024, international students who begin a study program that is part of a curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be eligible for a post­graduation work permit upon graduation. Under curriculum licensing agreements, students physically attend a private college that has been licensed to deliver the curriculum of an associated public college. These programs have seen significant growth in attracting international students in recent years, though they have less oversight than public colleges and they act as a loophole with regards to post-graduation work permit eligibility.
  • Graduates of master’s degree programs will soon be eligible to apply for a 3-year work permit. Under current criteria, the length of a post­graduation work permit is based solely on the length of an individual’s study program, hindering master’s graduates by limiting the amount of time they have to gain work experience and potentially transition to permanent residence.
    In the weeks ahead, open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students in master’s and doctoral programs. The spouses of international students in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible.

The important measures announced today complement other recently announced reforms to the International Student Program. Taken together, they aim to ensure genuine students receive the support they require and have the resources they need for an enriching study experience in Canada, while at the same time stabilizing the overall number of students arriving and alleviating pressures on housing, health care and other services in Canada.

PROCESSING UPDATE 2024

Congratuation!

Permanent Resident Approval


KIM, ** - Food service supervisor position
Oct. 2016 Express Entry Applied→Oct. 2016 Invitation Received→Jan. 2017 Final Approved


KIM, ** - Dental technician position
Oct. 2016 Express Entry Applied→Oct. 2016 Invitation Received→Jan. 2017 Final Approved


AN, ** - Hotel clerk supervisor position
Aug. 2016 Express Entry Applied→Aug. 2016 Invitation Received→Jan. 2017 Final Approved


SEO, ** - Retail store supervisor position
Jul. 2016 Express Entry Applied→Aug. 2016 Invitation Received→Jan. 2017 Final Approved


NOH, ** - Welder position
Jan. 2015 AINP Applied→Aug. 2015 Nominee Approved→Jan. 2017 Final Approved


CHI, ** - Welder position
Mar. 2015 AINP Applied→Aug. 2015 Nominee Approved→Jan. 2017 Final Approved


AMUNDSON, ** - Spouse sponsorship
May. 2015 Spouse Sponsorship Applied→Feb. 2017 Final Approved


 

AINP Approved


KIM, ** - Room attendant
Dec. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Nominee Approved


YOON, ** - Alterationist
Jan. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Nominee Approved


CHOI, ** - Housekeeping supervisor
Jan. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Nominee Approved


CHOI, ** - Automotive service technician
Dec. 2016 Applied→Feb. 2017 Nominee Approved


KIM, ** - Retail store supervisor
Nov. 2016 Applied→Feb. 2017 Nominee Approved


KIM, ** - Sports instructor
Sep. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Nominee Approved


LEE, ** - Cleaning supervisor
Nov. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Nominee Approved


LEE, ** - Motel managing supervisor
Sep. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Nominee Approved


KIM, ** - Food service supervisor
Oct. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Nominee Approved


BERNABE, *** - Food service supervisor
Oct. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Nominee Approved


KIM, ** - Retail store supervisor
Dec. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Nominee Approved


 

SINP Approved


JUNG, ** - Food counter attendant
Nov. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Nominee Approved


 

LMIA Approved


Retail store supervisor
Jun. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Cook
Nov. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Aug. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Nov. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Cook
Aug. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Dec. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Cashier
Sep. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Cook
Oct. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Hotel clerk
Jun. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Motel supervisor
Jun. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Liquor store supervisor
Oct. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Dec. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Cook
Sep. 2016 Applied→Feb. 2017 Approved


Food & Beverage Server
Jan. 2017 Applied→Feb. 2017 Approved


Cook
Oct. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Cook
Dec. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Cook
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Dec. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Food service supervisor
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Motel managing supervisor
Dec. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Motel managing supervisor
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Cleaning supervisor
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Food service supervisor
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Drywall installer
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Martial arts Instructor
Jan. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Food service supervisor
Jan. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Updated until March 31, 2017