Canada's study abroad guidelines have changed; preparation is key

4 Jan 2025
From the new year 2024 to the new year 2025, significant changes have been made to the regulations governing study in Canada. This reflects Citizenship and Immigration Canada's recognition of the challenges of the international student program and its desire to improve it, and to maintain a study system that is aligned with Canada's labour market needs, while at the same time providing greater transparency in the management of international students. The new regulations clarify academic and employment criteria, and ensure fairness in the system.

One of the most notable changes is the change in eligibility requirements for PGWPs, which can be issued for up to three years after graduation from a designated institution. Starting November 1, 2024, international students who want to apply for a PGWP must meet new requirements: four-year university graduates must demonstrate language proficiency of CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French, and college graduates must meet the criteria of CLB or NCLC 5 or higher. Also, while four-year university graduates can apply for a PGWP regardless of their field of study, college graduates must have completed a program that falls under one of Canada's labour market shortage occupations, which are limited to six fields: healthcare, STEM, agriculture, technology, transportation, and education. You should also review the CIP code on the Immigration website to ensure that the program you are applying for is eligible for a PGWP.

Second, off-campus working hours have also been adjusted. From November 2024, the number of hours that international students can work off-campus during the academic year will be increased from 20 hours per week to 24 hours per week. This gives students the opportunity to balance their studies and work with a little less financial strain. It also gives them the opportunity to gain more work experience in Canada while they are in school, which is beneficial for their employability after graduation.

Third, as of June 21, 2024, the process of applying for the PGWP through flagpoling has been eliminated. Flagpoling was a convenient way to briefly cross the Canadian border, return to the U.S. border checkpoint, and receive immigration services on the same day, but it was discontinued due to fairness and efficiency concerns. As a result, PGWP applications must be made online, which reflects Citizenship and Immigration Canada's goal to further organize the visa processing process and increase consistency.

Fourth, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) was terminated in November 2024. SDS was a program that allowed students from certain countries, such as India, China, and the Philippines, to expedite their student visas, typically providing a fast-track adjudication period that allowed students to receive their visa application results within an average of 20 days if they applied through SDS. However, abuse of the system and equity concerns led to its closure. Going forward, all international students will be adjudicated on the same basis, which is expected to make the program more fair and reduce abuse.

Fifth, Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) eligibility has also been significantly restricted. Starting in 2024, only spouses of students pursuing a master's, doctorate, or certain professional degrees (medicine, law, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, engineering, etc.) will be eligible to apply for an open work permit. The eligibility requirements are significantly stricter than before and are designed to meet Canadian labor market demand for highly skilled workers.

Finally, as of December 23, 2024, there will be no student visa application upon entry to Canada. All student visa applications and renewals will now only be available online, and if a student leaves Canada with a maintained status, they will not be able to resume their studies until their visa is approved. Maintained status means that a student can legally remain in Canada and continue their studies while awaiting the outcome of an application to extend their study visa. Therefore, international students must complete their visa applications and renewals before leaving the country.

These changes to the study abroad rules reflect Canada's commitment to providing international students with the ability to balance study and work, improve their employability after graduation, and strengthen the credibility and fairness of the program. However, the requirements are more demanding than before, and international students will need to be more prepared to meet them. It's important to plan for the long term, especially when it comes to post-study visas and employment, so it's important to take care of your visa and study plans from the beginning.

CONTACT US

Embark your journey with CanNest Immigration