IRCC has made impactful changes to Canada’s international student program. Here are FAQs regarding IRCC’s study permit announcement.
On January 22, IRCC imposed a new cap on the study permit approvals for 2024, thus implementing a new provincial attestation letter policy for international students applying for their study permits.
In the wake of IRCC’s study permit announcement, prospective international students have been left with numerous questions as to how these new changes will be implemented & what impact they will have on study permit chances. This blog will cover some of the most common queries about studying in Canada & attempt to clarify what details have been revealed by IRCC.
When Will These New Changes Come Into Effect?
In response to the IRCC’s study permit announcement, the immigration department has implemented a new study permit cap & the attestation letter process beginning from January 22. This implies that, in the remaining year, IRCC will approve only 360,000 study permit applications.
What might lead to confusion is the process of provincial and territorial governments issuing attestation letters, which are yet to be finalized. Territories, as well as provinces, have time until March 31 in order to implement this process.
I Have A Letter Of Acceptance & Am Planning To Arrive In Canada Soon. Do These Changes Impact Me?
The new changes to the international student program extend to anyone who did not submit their study permit application before January 22, 2024.
This implies that even if you have obtained a letter of acceptance to study at a DLI – unless you have applied for your study permit before January 22, you will be subject to the new policies.
Will I Have To Wait Till March 31 To Apply For My Study Permit?
Well, it remains unclear whether international/ foreign students will have to wait until the end of March to apply for their study permit.
Notably, the responsibility now lies with Canada’s territories & provinces in order to develop a process for issuing attestation letters to international students. Moreover, if provincial/ territorial governments can establish this framework before March 31, international/ foreign students might be able to apply for their study permits sooner.
Are There Any Study Permit Application After January 22 That Are Exempt From This New Cap & Process?
According to IRCC, specific study permit applications will not be subject to these new changes. These are:
- Minor children applying to attend primary or secondary school
- Students applying to renew or extend their study permits
- Students applying to attend a master’s, PhD, or other post-graduate program
Will I Have To Get IRCC Approval If I Want To Switch My Educational Institute In 2024?
As of now, it is unclear what the process will be for international students who wish to change their DLIs in the forthcoming year. IRCC might provide more clarity on this as the year continues.
Is This A Permanent Change To The International Student Program?
According to the January 22 release, the new international student cap & attestation process is a temporary measure that will be in effect for the next two years. IRCC has stated that it will reassess the cap imposed on international students for 2025 at the end of this year.