Canada Tightens Foreign Student Limits and Updates Work Rules!

September 24, 2024

Poorvi Antani

Canada updates tighten foreign enrollment cap and strengthens Post study work rules 

In the latest announcement about Immigration updates, the Immigration Minister Marc Miller has made it very clear that not everyone who wants to come or stay in Canada will be able to. In a recent development he has hence strengthened the regulation for temporary residence policy. 

A quick Synopsis: 

1. The Cap imposed on study permits in the beginning of 2024 is here to stay and the next 2 years shall see a 10% less cap compared to 2024 level 

1. Advanced degree students are no more lucky with their previous exception from the cap limits. The new cap captures master’s and doctoral students for next year 

1. Students pursuing public college programs shall be ineligible for PGWP if their program does not align with an area of high labor market demand. 3-year PGWP for University degree graduates sustain. 

1. Only a master’s program that is 16 months or more will make a student’s spouse eligible for Spousal permit. 

1. PGWP will now demand a minimum English or French language proficiency beginning November 1 2024. 

Big Revelations in the first quarter: 

Since the beginning of the year 2024, aspirants were taken aback by a national cap that was imposed on new study Permits 2024 leading to a projected decline of 35% in the new study permits in comparison to previous year. Adding to this, removal of spousal work permits other than for students in graduate or professional programs and eliminating PGWP eligibility for graduates of Ontario’s Public Private colleges has made it a daunting task. Finally, the mandate supply of PAL with study permit by the applicants was an added document to ensure institutes comply with the number of spaces they have been allotted through the cap. These remarkable changes in the beginning of the year were implemented with the prime motto of combating the growing public frustration with an affordable housing and healthcare capacity crisis. 

The Cause and Effect: 

The very moment Mr. Miller revealed that the cap is here to stay it crushed the dreams of many aspirants dreaming of getting a globally recognized Canadian degree. He made the intention very clear that as against 485000 study permits issued in 2024 so far, he is only willing to issue 437000 permits annually for the next 2 years. 

The end of year 2024 will bring major revelations for master’s and PHD students as that we now have to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter. Although another statement made simultaneously stated that 12% spaces shall be reserved for such students as they bring benefits to Canadian labor market. Criticizing this development the claims have ignited the system’s inability to identify responsible institutions and eventually levying burden for scholars who wants to contribute to Canada stating in this process Canada might compromise some of the best minds globally. 

Public College programs are hit hard by recent developments. The statement clearly projects making students from public college programs ineligible for PGWP if the course they pursuing are does not support areas of high labor market demand as designated by each province. An immediate impact would be humongous pressure being put on colleges to narrow down their course options and keep them market centric, eventually disregarding the success of various other degree courses. Critics have also quoted this development as a clear university bias.  

The mandatory language proficiency test to avail PGWP was taken with a cool breeze by people who possess good linguistic ability but has raised the eyebrows for those who lack the skill even after studying a degree course in an English-speaking country. Although, the spouses/partners of master’s degree students who have enrolled for programs which are less then 16 months have faced major disappointment as under no condition they will be allowed for a spousal open work permit.  

Introspecting the recent amendments, it’s loud and clear that not anyone who wishes to come and stay in Canada will be able to. 

Get in touch with SPS Canada

Receive professional advice on any of your questions regarding Canadian immigration. get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Canada. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).

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