Canada’s international student program has been garnering a great deal of attention this year in response to the state of the program. The number of international students in Canada has increased drastically in the last few years, with over 682,000 study permits being issued in 2023.

To date in 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has made considerable changes that will impact Canada’s international student programs and the issuance of study permits. Earlier this year, the Government of Canada instituted a cap on study permit allocations for the first time in Canada’s history. Additionally, there were changes to the international student program itself implemented even earlier this year with the intention of protecting international students.

Confirmed Changes Impacting International Students

Many changes have already been made to the study permit program this year, with many already implemented. As previously mentioned, the cap on study permit allocations to each province has been implemented. Under the cap, each province has a specific allocation of study permits. Overall, the number of study permits that will be issued throughout 2024 is significantly less than the number that were issued in 2023. However, not all provinces were subject to a decrease in their allocation, as these changes were made in consideration of several factors. Further, most of the allocated study permits will be assigned to public colleges and universities, which will drastically impact private enrolment.

The cost of living requirement was also increased, which will impact the amount of money that students need to have in order to study in Canada. There were further other changes instituted with the goal of protecting international students, such as changes to housing and online study requirements.

Newly Proposed Changes for International Students

On June 29, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada made an announcement in the Canada Gazette proposing more changes to Canada’s international student program. The changes proposed are focused on designated learning institutions, as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has identified some issues with Designated Learning Institutions under the current framework. The government now seeks to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations in order to fix such issues.

Current Identified Issues

Three issues were identified in the announcement that were found to impact program integrity:

• Reporting: Under the existing regulations, the Federal Government does not have the regulatory authority to compel reporting from Designated Learning Institutions as part of the compliance program and letter of acceptance verification system. When Designated Learning Institutions do not report, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has no way of determining if a student is attending the Designated Learning Institution.
• Student Enrollment Status: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada cannot impose conditions on a non-compliant Designated Learning Institution, such as the suspension of study permit processing. This means that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is required to issue study permits for students attending the Designated Learning Institutions even when the Designated Learning Institution is not reporting to IRCC on student enrollment status or participating in the letter of acceptance verification system.
• Student Attendance: Under the current regulations, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada cannot compel international students to notify the Department if they change Designated Learning Institutions. As a result, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is unable in many cases to confirm student attendance and study permit compliance when a student changes Designated Learning Institutions.

Many of the proposed changes will impact Designated Learning Institutions and will ensure that there is greater compliance with the applicable regulations, as set out by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Study Permits and Transfers

A key proposed change to be aware of is that if a study permit holder receives a letter of acceptance to attend a Designated Learning Institution other than the one indicated on their study permit, they must submit an application for a new study permit before the start date of the new program of study. Within the proposed regulation is an allowance that would let the student attend their new Designated Learning Institution without a valid study permit until a decision is made on their application. However, this is only permitted if the student remains in Canada and complies with all the conditions on their study permit. In other words, in order to transfer full-time to a new Designated Learning Institution, students will need a new study permit to stay at their new school.

The proposed regulation would also result in students having to pay for another study permit application, which costs $150. There is also concern that this policy would result in longer wait times for applications in general, as it would mean that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will have to process more study permit applications. However, should the proposed regulation be accepted, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has indicated that they will mitigate wait times by allocating more resources to processing.

Off-Campus Work Hours

Another proposed change stemming from the recent announcement is a proposed increase in off-campus working hours. Currently, international students are only permitted to work off campus up to 20 hours a week. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this limit was increased through temporary measures. The temporary measure that allowed for more than 20 hours expired in April 2024, and now a permanent increase is being considered. The proposed change would increase the limit to 24 hours a week. The data suggests that most international students wish to work beyond the current 20 hour limit.

Proposed Changes in Consultation Phase

The proposed changes are in the consultation phase currently and are due to be considered on July 29, 2024. After that date, if the changes are being implemented it is likely there will be an announcement detailing exactly what is changing in order to inform those who will be affected.

Contact Garson Immigration Law for Canadian Immigration Assistance

Garson Immigration Law is a Toronto-based law firm that helps people find solutions for various immigration needs, including obtaining permanent residence in Canada and overcoming inadmissibility. Our trusted and knowledgeable immigration lawyers have extensive expertise helping clients navigate immigration matters, including work permits, student visas, and US immigration from Canada. To learn more about how we can assist you, contact us online or call us at 416-321-2860.