On January 2024, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a series of reforms targeting the International Student Program . IRCC has now provided more clarity and details to its previous announcements as below:
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫(𝐏𝐀𝐋):
1. As of January 22, 2024, PAL will be required for most new post-secondary international students who are applying for a study permit.
2. PAL demonstrates that they are under the national cap allocation.
3. PAL is exempted for primary or secondary students, master’s or doctoral students, visiting or exchange students, and in-Canada study and work permit holders, as well as their accompanying family members.
𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭 (𝐏𝐆𝐖𝐏):
1. As of February 15, 2024, graduates from master’s programs less than two years can now get a 3-year PGWP.
2. Other programs align PGWP length to study duration max 3 years
𝐏𝐆𝐖𝐏 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜-𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬:
1. PGWPs restricted for these programs due to concerns about quality and oversight.
2. Existing students studying in these colleges would remain eligible for PGWP.
3. New students starting programs after Sep 1, 2024, won’t get PGWP.
𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬:
1. Only spouses of graduate and professional degree students eligible for open work permits.
2. Spouses and common-law partners of international students, already within Canada, seeking to extend their existing work permit will continue to be eligible.
Please email info@alexanderimmigration.ca or call +1 647 773 3673 if you have any questions.
𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬