Ottawa had just made a news release this morning. The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced today that the Government of Canada will set an intake cap on international student permit applications to stabilize new growth for a period of two years. For 2024, the cap is expected to result in approximately 360,000 approved study permits, a decrease of 35% from 2023.

International Master and phd applicants are under no effects. The policy mainly is tighting the issue of study permit for college applicants, especially for those aged over 35 aiming to apply for college program as the motive of study is not really justified. Applicants with Bachelors and higher degree are not recommended to apply for college programs in the next 2 years.

If you plan to bring your spouse with you while you are studying in Canada, pleaes go for a master’s degree or Phd degree only！

Some Good news in the bad news: Graduates of master’s and other short graduate-level programs will soon be eligible to apply for a 3-year work permit.

Summary of the new policy is here:

1. For 2024, the cap is expected to result in approximately 360,000 approved study permits, a decrease of 35% from 2023. Study permit renewals will not be impacted. Those pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees, and elementary and secondary education are not included in the cap. Current study permit holders will not be affected.

2. 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. Provinces and territories are expected to establish a process for issuing attestation letters to students by no later than March 31, 2024.

3. In order to better align the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, we are changing the eligibility criteria:

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.

4. 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.

 

News source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2024/01/canada-to-stabilize-growth-and-decrease-number-of-new-international-student-permits-issued-to-approximately-360000-for-2024.html