By Catherine Sas, K.C.
Special to The Post

Over the past year, we have seen dramatic changes to Canada’s international student program.  Canada has gone from setting out the welcome mat for international students to pulling the rug out from underneath them by turning Canada’s international student program upside down. In recent months international students have been held responsible for many of Canada’s ills including housing shortages, overcrowding of schools, raiding food banks, and causing border crossing traffic jams by making “flagpole” applications. As a result, as early as October 2023, the Canadian government announced the first of what would become an avalanche of changes targeting Canada’s international student program. Let’s see what is in store for the intrepid international student.

On October 27, 2023, Canada’s Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Honorable Marc Miller, announced new measures aimed at managing the growing number of international students in Canada. In order to curtail a perceived oversupply, he introduced changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, the cost-of living requirements for students and eligibility requirements for accompanying family members to receive Open Spousal Work Permits (SOWP’s).

On December 7, 2023, the Minister further announced that as of January 1, 2024, the guaranteed financial requirement for study permit applicants will increase significantly from $10,000 to $20,635. In an effort to assist students in supporting themselves while studying, this fall IRCC intends to increase the number of hours students may work off-campus per week from 20 to 24 hours.

Additionally, on January 22, 2024, IRCC set an annual intake cap for international student permit applications at 360,000. Compared to 2023, this is a drastic decrease of nearly 35%. IRCC also mandated that study permit applicants to obtain a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from a province or territory to confirm their enrollment with an approved educational institution with a goal of making schools more accountable for their student registrants. (See detailed requirements here:  https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents/provincial-attestation-letter.html).

In this announcement, IRCC also established provincial and territorial caps based on regional population density. Provinces and Territories were required to establish their PAL systems by March 31, 2024. The Minister claims that these are temporary measures, part of a two-year pilot and that the number of study permits to be issued in 2025 will be assessed at the end of 2024.

One of the most significant changes to Canada’s international student program this year is that SOWP’s will now only be available to the spouses of international students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs that are at least 16 months in duration. This is a drastic change from students being able to bring their spouses and families with them while pursuing their education in Canada.

IRCC has also removed the option for recent graduates to obtain a PGWP at the port of entry, a process commonly referred to as “flagpoling”. International students applying for an initial PGWP, or an extension, will be limited to making applications from within Canada and waiting for them to be processed. See our former blog - “Canadian  International Students take note – No more Flagpoling! https://canadian-visa-lawyer.com/canadian-international-students-take-note-no-more-flagpoling/).

Here is a summary of the recent changes to long standing aspects of Canada’s international student program:

As set out in his January announcement, Minister Miller’s aims are clear:

“Through the decisive measures announced today, we are striking the right balance for Canada and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system while setting students up for the success they hope for.”

While a Canadian education can certainly enhance your prospects for permanent residence, it’s not the guaranteed golden ticket it once was. Coming to Canada as an international student does not ensure that one will become a permanent resident. Many current and prospective international students have high hopes, only to find out that the path to becoming a permanent resident isn’t attainable any longer.

As we can see from recent policy changes, Canada’s international student program and Express Entry criteria have made it clear that – preparation is key! Simply put, holding a Canadian diploma or undergraduate degree likely will not be enough to secure residency in Canada. To boost your chances of qualifying for permanent residency, consider earning a diploma or degree in your home country first and completing one or two years of industry-specific work experience. (See our former blog –  https://canadian-visa-lawyer.com/aspiring-international-students-take-note-canadian-permanent-residence-is-not-guaranteed-after-graduation/). If you are thinking of being an international student in Canada, be aware of the new world order.

For a complete list of our most recent blogs regarding international students please see: https://canadian-visa-lawyer.com/category/studying-in-canada/)

Catherine Sas, K.C. has over 30 years of legal experience. She provides a full range of immigration services and is a leading immigration practitioner (Lexpert, Who’s Who Legal, Best Lawyers in Canada). Go to canadian-visa-lawyer.com or email catherine@sasanding.com.