Canada student visa and related reforms 2024 🇨🇦

Impactful new changes have been announced and put in place by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) Canada. The information in this post has been researched and compiled by iae GLOBAL for the benefit of our students in Nepal.

1. Cap and provincial attestation letter

Most new post-secondary international students at the college or undergraduate level must provide a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from a province or territory with their study permit application.

Who needs a provincial attestation letter?

• most post-secondary study permit applicants
• most non-degree granting graduate programs (for example, certificate programs and graduate diplomas)
• anyone else not included in the exception list below

Who doesn’t need a provincial attestation letter?

• primary and secondary school students
• master’s or doctoral degree students
• visiting or exchange students
• in-Canada study permit and work permit holders (includes study permit holders applying for an extension)
• in-Canada family members of study permit or work permit holders
• students whose application we received before 8:30 a.m. ET on January 22, 2024

You do not need a PAL when applying for a study permit if you

• are applying to study in a preschool, primary school or secondary school (up to grade 12)
• are applying to study in a master’s degree or doctoral degree program or

2. Post-graduation work permit (PGWP) update for graduates of master’s degree programs

Starting on February 15, 2024, a longer, 3-year post-graduation work permit will be available to those who are graduating from a master’s degree program that is less than 2 years and who meet all other PGWP eligibility criteria.

The length of PGWPs for programs other than master’s degrees will continue to align with the length of the study program, to a maximum of 3 years.

Who is eligible for a longer post-graduation work permit (PGWP)?

Graduates of programs that are at least two years in length at PGWP-eligible designated learning institutions are eligible for a 3-year PGWP, as are graduates of master’s degree programs less than 2 years in length.

3. PGWP eligibility for public-private partnership college programs

Who is eligible for a PGWP after graduating from a public-private partnership college program?

International students currently enrolled will remain eligible for a PGWP if they meet other program eligibility criteria.

Who is not eligible for a PGWP after graduating from a public-private partnership college program?

New students enrolling in this type of program (Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)) will not be eligible for a post-graduation work permit.

Below is the list of colleges which will fall under this category & will no longer be eligible for PGWP.

1. Niagara College – Toronto campus, Operated with TSoM
2. Fleming College – Toronto campus, Operated with Trebas
3. Georgian College – Toronto campus, Operated with ILAC
4. Fanshawe College – Toronto campus, Operated with ILAC
5. Algonquin College – Toronto & Mississauga campus, Operated with CDI
6. Mohawk College – Mississauga campus, Operated with Trios
7. Loyalist College – Toronto campus, Operated with TBC
8. St. Lawrence College – Toronto campus, Operated with Alpha
9. St. Lawrence College – Vancouver campus, Operated with Canadian college
10. Northern College – Toronto campus, Operated with Pures
11. St. Clair College – Toronto campus, Operated with Ace Acumen
12. Cambrian College – Toronto & Brampton campus, Operated with Hanson
13. Lambton College – Toronto & Mississauga campus, Operated with Cester/ Queen’s (Please note that Ottawa campus of Lambton is not under PPP, and is still eligible for PGWP)
14. Canadore College – Mississauga, Brampton & Scarborough campus, Operated with Stanford
15. Sheridan College – Fort Errie campus, Operated with CCTT
16. Sault College – Toronto & Brampton campus, Operated with Trios
17. Red Deer College – Calgary campus, Operated with Robertson
18. Portage College – Calgary campus, Operated by CIOT

4. Changes to open work permit eligibility for spouses

In the coming weeks, eligibility for open work permits for the spouses and common-law partners of international students will be updated.

Who can get an open work permit?

Eligibility is limited to the spouses and common-law partners of students in graduate (master’s and doctorate) and professional degree–granting programs only.
Once these changes are in effect, spouses and common-law partners of international students seeking to extend their existing work permit will continue to be eligible under this stream.

Who will not be eligible for an open work permit?

The spouses and common-law partners of international students in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible for an open work permit unless they already hold an open work permit under this stream.

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To start your application to study in Canada, visit iae Global Nepal today.
📍 Location: https://g.page/iaenepal