Updated on 2 February, 2024

Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, announced that the Government of Canada plans to establish a limit on the number of applications for study permits. This measure aims to control the rate of new growth in this area and will be effective for two years.

Maximum number of study permits issued

• For 2024, the cap is expected to be approximately 360,000.
• This marks a 35% decrease from 2023.
• Study permit renewals will not be impacted. 
• Those pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees, and elementary and secondary education are not included in the cap. 
• Current study permit holders will not be affected.

Attestation letter from a province or territory

• Starting January 22, 2024, all study permit applications submitted to IRCC will need to include an attestation letter from a province or territory in which they will reside.
  • The IRCC will divide the set limit among each province and territory. Subsequently, these regions will distribute their allocated share among the specified learning institutions within their jurisdiction. 
  • Provinces and territories are anticipated to develop a system for issuing attestation letters to students by March 31, 2024, at the latest.
• Any applications received on or after January 22, 2024, without an attestation letter will be sent back, unless the applicant is exempt from this requirement.

Who doesn’t need an attestation letter

You do not need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) when applying for a study permit if you

• are applying to study in a preschool, primary school or secondary school (up to grade 12)
• are applying to study in a master’s degree or doctoral degree program or
• are in Canada and one of the following situations applies to you:
  • You’re applying for a study permit extension.
  • You have a work permit.
  • You’re a temporary resident who is a visiting or exchange student studying at a designated learning institution (DLI).
  • You’re a temporary resident who has completed a course or program of study that is a prerequisite to you enrolling at a DLI.
  • You’re under a removal order, but can’t be removed from Canada at this time.
  • You have a temporary resident permit valid for at least 6 months.
  • You’re the family member of a foreign national who lives in Canada and is one of the following:
    • a study permit holder
    • a work permit holder
    • a temporary resident permit holder with a permit that’s valid for at least 6 months
    • a member of armed forces in another country under the Visiting Forces Act
    • an accredited foreign government representative
    • a participant in certain sports activities or events
    • a worker in Canada who is a member of a foreign news company
    • a religious worker

Please visit here for more about the attestation letter.

Post-Graduation Work Permit 

The eligibility criteria are changing:

• Starting September 1, 2024, international students who begin a study program that is part of a curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit upon graduation.
• Graduates of master’s and other short graduate-level programs will soon be eligible to apply for a 3-year work permit.
• In the coming weeks, open work permits will be restricted to spouses of international students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs. Unfortunately, spouses of international students in other educational levels, such as undergraduate and college programs, will no longer qualify for these permits.

Source: Government of Canada

Disclaimer: The information is obtained directly from the websites in the source section. The information has been gathered as accurately as possible at the time of writing, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Please check their official website and digital channels for the most accurate and up-to-date information.