Immigration Minister Mark Miller announced a two-year cap on student permits to handle the housing crisis and stabilize growth. The cap is anticipated to lead to roughly 360,000 allowed study permits in 2024, a 35% drop from 2023. A number of students will be allotted to each province according to their population.
The cap does not apply to those pursuing doctoral and master’s degrees and those pursuing elementary and secondary education. No changes will be made to the study permit renewals. As of January 22, 2024, an attestation letter from a province or territory will be necessary for every study visa application submitted to the IRCC to impose the cap. By March 31, 2024, provinces and territories must have a procedure in place for providing student attestation letters.
The government also changed the criteria for the Postgraduate Work Permit starting September 1, 2024. International students who completed the program as part of a curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be qualified for a postgraduation work permit. Students who achieved a master’s degree or short graduate-level programs will be eligible for a three-year work permit.
Additionally, the spouse open work permit will only be available to students enrolled in master’s or doctorate degrees. Spouses of international pupils enrolled in other programs, such as undergraduate or college, are not eligible.
