Service Links Canada wishes to advise our clients of the changes to study permit applications and the post-graduate work permit (PGWP) program as announced by IRCC yesterday on dated January 22-2024.

Study permits and Caps

• A cap for study permit approval is set for both 2024 and 2025 as a temporary measure. The 2024 cap is around 360,000 study permits, a decrease of 35 % from 2023. The 2025 cap is to be set after a re-assessment by the end of 2024.
• The cap doesn't affect study permit renewals and current study permit holders.
• The cap doesn't apply to (a) master's and doctoral degree applications, and (b) elementary and secondary education. 

Application process change after the cap 

• IRCC will allocate a cap per province/territory and who in turn will allocate caps per DLI.
• As of January 22, 2024, every study permit application submitted to IRCC requires an attestation letter from a province or territory.
• Provinces and territories are expected to establish a process for issuing attestation letters to students by no later than March 31, 2024.

PGWP changes

• Program not eligible for PGWP starting September 1, 2024, (a) international students who begin a study program that is part of a curriculum licensing arrangement, and (b) students who physically attend a private college that has been licensed to deliver the curriculum of an associated public college. 
• Limited open work permit issuance to spouses of international students: in the weeks to come, open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students in master's and doctoral programs.
• Extended PGWP period for graduate-level program students: graduates of master’s and other short graduate-level programs will soon be eligible to apply for a 3-year work permit.  

For more information, Please contact our Bangkok or Vancouver office.