Canada limits study permits ⚠️ IRCC news 2024
Studying in Canada is getting harder and harder. Immigration Canada (IRCC) released a few updates recently and chances are you will not like them. But don’t worry, like in any situation, there is a solution to the problem! First, let me share the big news.
1. Financial requirements
As of January 1, 2024, IRCC increased the minimum required Proof of Funds for a Canadian study permit/visa by $10,000 to reflect the rising costs of living in Canada. This means international students now have to show approximately CAD 40,000 total in Proof of Funds when applying for their visa. CAD 20,000 for tuition and CAD 20,000 for living expenses. These requirements will be adjusted each year as Statistics Canada updates the low-income cut-off. You are NOT expected to pay it upfront or to be able to pay it all once you are accepted. It is purely to show the Canadian Government that you can afford to study in Canada. For example, many students will get their parents to transfer funds into their account just to have Proof of Funds to show during the visa application process, and then transfer it right back out once the visa is approved.
2. Limit on study permits
On January 22, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that Canada will reduce the number of international study permits by 35% for the next 2 years. In 2022, Canada has issued more than 800k study permits. The plan for 2024 is 364,000 study permits. The 2025 limit will be reassessed at the end of this year.
IRCC will allocate a portion of the cap to each province and territory, which 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. Each province or territory is developing a process to get an attestation letter. These processes are expected to be in place by March 31, 2024.
2.1. Spousal open work permit
One important part of the announcement is that 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. So if you want to bring your family to Canada while studying, this will no longer be available. You will need to make visas: tourist or work, so that your family can come with you
3. Private colleges
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. In simple words, if you’re studying at a private institution, no PGWP for you. 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.
4. DLI will confirm every LOA with IRCC
Since December 1, 2023, post-secondary designated learning institutions have been required to confirm every letter of acceptance submitted by an applicant outside Canada directly with IRCC. This enhanced verification process protects prospective students from fraud and ensures that study permits are issued based only on genuine letters of acceptance. There have been many cases of fraud, so Canadian immigration is trying to stop that.
5. Working hours limit
If you’re already studying in Canada, you know that you are eligible to work full-time as opposed to working only 20 hours per week. IRCC has launched this policy to help students and they have extended this policy a few times, however, all good things come to an end. An official “end of things” is April 30, 2024. Will they extend this policy again? No one knows meaning as a student, you need to be prepared to work part-time.
The solution
With all the recent updates, it might seem impossible to move to Canada these days. If you’re serious about studying in Canada, I recommend you talk to a lawyer because coming to Canada is getting more and more complicated. And while lawyers can cost a lot of money, I have an alternative free solution for you which is Halp.
Halp is a premium platform for students who want to study in Canada. Halp pairs international students with a free, 1:1 Admissions Coach that is based in Canada. This Coach will guide you through the entire study abroad journey, from discovering programs that fit your budget, career & immigration goals, to building & submitting applications that get you accepted to those programs, to securing your study visa & helping you move to Canada. Halp does all of this for FREE for students that are serious & ready to begin applying- no fees or hidden deposits!
With all the recent changes, Halp is reserved for serious students who are ready to submit applications within ~1-2 weeks of being paired with a Halp Coach. If you want to study in Canada this year, you need to act fast.
You can learn more about Halp and watch a full walkthrough in my latest video!
