Canada Targets Quality Over Quantity: 437,000 Study Permits for International Students in 2025

Canada is shifting its focus toward quality education with a new cap on international student permits for 2025. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have announced a limit of 437,000 study permits, a 10% reduction from the 2024 target of 485,000.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller said there is a growing demand for study permits, and there should be a balance between demand and sustainability. He highlighted the need to preserve the integrity of the immigration system, adding, "We will do whatever it takes to manage the system effectively and ensure newcomers are set up for success."

This announcement is part of a series of changes revealed by Immigration Minister Marc Miller concerning Canada's international student program. This article will discuss all the recent changes to Canada's international student program.

Major Changes to Canada's Immigration Policies

• Provincial Attestation Letter Requirement for Master's and PhD Students
• Revised PGWP Eligibility Criteria
• New Restrictions on Spousal Open Work Permits
• Updates to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
• Adjustments to Temporary and Permanent Resident Targets in Canada

Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) requirement for Master's and PhD students

As part of the updated cap on study permits, obtaining a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is mandatory for Master's and PhD students in Canada.

Undergraduate and college students were introduced to the PAL earlier this year to help Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) verify genuine applications and control the number of study permits issued. Now, master's and PhD students must also submit a PAL, as they are no longer exempt from this process.

Approximately 12% of study permit allocations will be reserved for master's and doctoral students, acknowledging their valuable contributions to the Canadian labour market.

Revised PGWP Eligibility Criteria

The federal government has made several changes to the Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility criteria.

Starting November 1, university graduates must achieve a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 7, while college graduates need a CLB score of 5 to qualify.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller expects these new requirements will reduce the number of PGWPs issued by 175,000 over the next three years.
The new language requirements aim to ensure that international students are better prepared for the Canadian job market. By setting higher language proficiency standards, the government seeks to improve job performance and integration, benefiting both graduates and employers.

New Restrictions on Spousal Open Work Permits

IRCC is introducing new restrictions on work permit eligibility. In the later quarter of 2024, only the spouses of master's degree students enrolled in programs of at least 16 months will qualify for work permits.

IRCC expects this change to reduce the number of spousal work permits by 50,000 over the next three years.

Additionally, Spousal Open Work Permits will now be limited to the spouses of Canadian citizens or permanent residents employed in critical sectors. This measure is part of a broader effort to manage work permit volumes and prioritize essential industries.

Updates to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

As per the report by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Canada's unemployment rate has increased by 1.5 percentage points since April 2023, reaching 6.6% by August 2024. The number of unemployed individuals in Canada reached 1.5 million.

The federal government has introduced several measures to limit the number of temporary residents on work permits. The changes are expected to increase job opportunities for Canadians and protect wages. As Minister Randy Boissonnault stated, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) will be a last resort, not a replacement for Canadian workers or a way to suppress wages.

The government aims to balance labour market demand by reducing reliance on temporary foreign workers while sustaining economic growth through immigration.

Adjustments to Temporary and Permanent Resident Targets in Canada

Canada has introduced several fundamental changes to its immigration system in 2024. The most significant is the first-ever cap on study permits, which began in January and will run until the end of 2025.

IRCC has set specific study permit allocations for each province and introduced the new Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) system to manage these applications.

By restricting study permits and reducing temporary work permits, the federal government aims to stabilize immigration numbers and prioritize sustainable growth. There are concerns about the strain on housing, infrastructure, and the labour market due to the immigrant surge.

Many prospective students and their families may face new challenges in obtaining study and work permits.

Additionally, those in college programs or with non-master's/PhD students will be ineligible for certain work permits, potentially limiting their ability to gain work experience and stay in Canada.

If you have concerns regarding work permits, contact us for personalized support and expert advice on navigating these changes. Our immigration lawyer at ImmiLaw Global will help you manage your journey effectively.

Canada to tighten policies on Temporary Residency and Focus on In-Demand Sectors?

IRCC is implementing several new measures to manage the number of temporary residents:

1. Revoking the COVID-era Work Permit Policy: The previous policy allowing visitors to apply for job-supported work permits from within Canada has been terminated.
2. Suspending Low-Wage LMIA Processing: The government has halted Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for low-wage positions in Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher.
3. Revising Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Criteria: IRCC is considering significant changes to PGWP issuance, aiming to align permits with educational programs that prepare graduates for roles in-demand sectors.

In response to evolving immigration needs, Minister Miller is exploring potential adjustments to Canada's permanent immigration levels. He emphasized that these changes would be significant and substantive, not a superficial fix.

We look forward to more details on these promising developments in the coming weeks, and ImmiLaw Global will keep you updated.

Feel free to contact us for your queries

Read to Know: How to Tackle a Canadian Study Permit Rejection?