September 18, 2024 – Immigration Minister Marc Miller and Labour Minister Randy Boissonnault announced new measures to manage the intake of temporary residents, including reductions to study permits and tighter eligibility rules for work permits. These changes aim to address labor market needs and ensure the immigration system can support newcomers effectively.

Study Permit Reduction in 2025 & 2026

Starting in 2025, Canada will reduce the number of study permits issued to 437,000, a 10% drop from the 485,000 permits granted in 2024. This reduced cap will remain in place through 2026.

Master’s and doctoral students will face new requirements, including submitting a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL). About 12% of the study permit spaces will be set aside for these advanced degree students due to their contributions to the Canadian labor market.

Work Permit Restrictions for Spouses

Beginning later in 2024, work permit eligibility for spouses of master’s students will be limited to those whose programs last at least 16 months.

Additionally, work permits will be limited to spouses of foreign workers employed in management or professional roles, or in sectors facing labor shortages, under both the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).

New PGWP Language Requirements

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program will continue to offer permits of up to three years for public college graduates, but only for those in fields linked to long-term labor shortages.

Additionally, from November 1, 2024, PGWP applicants will need to meet new language proficiency requirements: a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 for university graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates.

For more details, please visit the official news release on IRCC’s website.

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