Please note: the information provided above is not in any way a substitution for advice from an immigration lawyer or legal immigration consultant.

Students should make use of registered immigration consultants and lawyers should they need further advice or clarification on application processes.

Since January 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced several changes concerning the international student program including changes to the number of international study permits available, off-campus work hour limitations and post-graduation work permit eligibility. The Federal government has indicated that these announcements are intended to address Canada’s growing volume of temporary residents (including international students) with a targeted reduction of temporary resident numbers from 6.5% to 5% of the total population.

For many students, these changes have been difficult to navigate due to the overwhelming and constant amount of new information, the poor communication of these changes and the instability and uncertainty these announcements have created for international students studying in BC.

Current students understandably have many concerns. The Federation shares these concerns, in particular, the constantly changing regulations that leave international students trying to find answers, living precariously in the case of work hour limitations and facing high stress levels caused by the uncertainty about their futures living in and studying in Canada. The Federation will continue to advocate for fairness and protections for international students and more certainty from the federal and provincial governments to ensure international students have stability while attending post-secondary institutions in Canada.

In the meantime, the Federation has compiled a summary of the recent changes, answers to the most commonly asked questions and resources that members can use to assist them in understanding the changes.

KEY CHANGES ANNOUNCED BY IRCC

Changes to Number of Study Permits: IRCC has announced a further 10% reduction in the intake cap for new study permits in 2025, bringing the total to 437,000 from the 2024 target of 485,000. with a goal of stabilizing the number of international students in Canada and ensure that post-secondary institutions can support these students effectively.

Changes to Spousal Work Permit Eligibility: Limiting Work Permits for Spouses of Master’s Degree Students: Later this year, work permit eligibility will be restricted to spouses of master’s degree students only if the program is at least 16 months long.

New Eligibility Requirements for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program (Effective November 1, 2024): Starting November 1, 2024, all PGWP applicants must demonstrate a minimum language proficiency in French or English. Field of study requirements will also be introduced as criteria for the PGWP process in some cases. The specific requirements you must meet depend on your program type and when you submitted your study permit application.

MORE ON THE CHANGES TO THE POST-GRADUATION WORK PERMIT

IF YOU SUBMITTED YOUR STUDY PERMIT APPLICATION BEFORE NOVEMBER 1, 2024, AND ARE APPLYING FOR A PGWP ON OR AFTER NOVEMBER 1, 2024

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral Degree Graduates and other University Program Graduates require English or French proficiency minimum of CLB7 or NCLC7 (includes Bachelor’s, Masters’ and Doctoral degrees and other University Program Graduates).
• College and Non-University Program Graduates require English or French proficiency minimum of CLB5 or NCLC5. These applications do not have a field of study requirement by applicants.

IF YOU SUBMIT YOUR STUDY PERMIT APPLICATION ON OR AFTER NOVEMBER 1, 2024, AND ARE APPLYING FOR A PGWP ON OR AFTER NOVEMBER 1, 2024

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral Degree Graduates: the language requirements are the same as above. There are no field of study restrictions.
• Other University Program Graduates: the language requirements are the same as above. Field of Study Requirement: Your program must be in an eligible field related to occupations facing long-term shortages.
• College and Non-University Program Graduates: the language requirements are the same as above. Field of Study Requirement: Your program must be in an eligible field related to occupations facing long-term shortages.

Graduates from the other University Program and College and Non-University Program Categories will remain eligible for a PGWP of up to three years if their field of study is linked to long-term shortage occupations.

FIELD OF STUDY REQUIREMENTS

Some study programs have field-of-study requirements linked to occupations facing long-term labor shortages. These are grouped into five main categories:

1. Agriculture and Agri-food
2. Healthcare
3. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
4. Trade
5. Transport

Click here for more information on the changes to the PGWP eligibility requirements, including the language proficiency, field of study requirements, and the list of eligible programs.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE IRCC ANNOUNCEMENTS?

A: The best place to get information is directly from the IRCC website. Below are links to the containing information about Canada’s international student program and the recent changes announced by IRCC.

IRCC Information: Study in Canada as an International Student

IRCC Information: Post-Graduate Work Permit Eligibility Changes

IRCC Announcement: January 22, 2024 – Study Permit Cap

IRCC Announcement: April 29, 2024 – Off-Campus Work Hours

IRCC Announcement: September 18, 2024 – Changes to PGWP and Language Requirements

IRCC Announcement: November 15, 2024 – Off-Campus Work Hours Increased to 24 Hours

Q: DOES THE POST-GRADUATE WORK PERMIT CHANGE AFFECT ME IF I AM A CURRENT STUDENT?

A: Yes, starting November 1, international students need to provide English Language proficiency to be able to apply for a Post-Grad Work Permit (PGWP). You will need to take a language test.

Q: WHAT TYPE OF LANGUAGE TEST DO I NEED TO TAKE?

A: For English - IELTS General Training Test, CELPIP General Test or PTE Core: Pearson Test of English. For French – TEF Canada or TCF Canada.

Q: I AM AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AT A COLLEGE, DO I NEED TO PROVE FIELD OF STUDY FOR MY PGWP APPLICATION?

A: If you submitted your study permit application before November 1, 2024, you are exempt from the field of study requirements.

Q: HOW MANY HOURS CAN I WORK AS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT OFF-CAMPUS?

A: 24 hours. The temporary waiver allowing international students to work up to 40 hours off-campus ended on April 30, 2024, at that time, the off-campus work hours returned to 20 hours per week. On November 15, IRCC announced an increase to off-campus work hours to 24 hours.

Visit the IRCC website for more information on the number of hours you are allowed to work off-campus, including during summer, winter or reading week breaks.

RESOURCES YOU CAN ACCESS

Students’ Union Legal Assistance Service

Participating students’ union health and dental plans also offer timely, cost-effective access to legal counselling where you can receive unlimited free legal consultation and referrals, and a 25% discount on most lawyer fees. Contact your students’ union for details.

Experienced lawyers can guide you through most major types of law including family, criminal, civil litigation, landlord and tenant, residential real estate, condo/strata, wills and estates, tax, employment, immigration, identity theft support and more.

International Education Department

Most, if not all post-secondary institutions have resources available to international students through the International Education Department. The staff in these offices can support with navigating these changes and directing you to the relevant information.

MOSAIC

MOSAIC (M.O.S.A.I.C. Multi-lingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities) is one of Canada’s largest settlement non-profit organizations. They offer newcomer services to support immigrants, refugees, and individuals from diverse backgrounds, including services geared at international students. Learn more here.