ADVERTISEMENT
Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, has introduced significant changes to the country’s international student and work permit programs. Beginning in 2025, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will issue just 437,000 study permits, representing a 10% reduction from the 2024 target of 485,000. This cap is expected to remain in place through 2026, potentially reducing study permit issuances by 300,000 over the coming years.
Among the key updates:
- Master’s and PhD students now require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL): Previously exempt from this requirement, graduate students must now obtain a PAL to verify their application. About 12% of the allocated study permits will be reserved for these students, highlighting their importance to Canada’s labor market.
- Changes to Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility: Beginning November 1, applicants will need to meet stricter language requirements, with university graduates required to demonstrate a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 7 and college graduates a CLB score of 5. This change is projected to result in 175,000 fewer PGWPs being issued over the next three years.
- New limits on Spousal Open Work Permits: Eligibility will be restricted to spouses of master’s degree students enrolled in programs at least 16 months long. This will reduce spousal work permit issuances by 50,000 over the next three years.
These measures come as part of a broader strategy to manage temporary and permanent resident levels in Canada.
