IRCC notices & newsroom

PAL Required for Study Permit Extensions

• Starting January 22, 2025, most study permit applicants must provide a provincial attestation letter (PAL) unless they meet one of these exceptions.
• For example, a PAL is not required, if you are in Canada and applying for a study permit extension at the same DLI and extending the study permit for the same program.

Read more here

Changes to Spousal Open Work Permits

• For spouses/common-law partners of international students: Starting January 21, 2025, Open Work Permits (OWPs) are only available to spouses of international students in master's programs 16 months or longer, doctoral programs, or select professional programs.
• For spouses/common-law partners of PGWP applicants/holders: Open Work Permits (OWPs) are only available to spouses of PGWP applicants/holders employed in TEER 0 or 1 occupations or select TEER 2 or 3 jobs in sectors with labour shortages or government priorities. Learn more here. 

• Family members who are not eligible to apply for an open work permit may be eligible to apply for another work permit. They may be eligible to visit or study if they don't plan to work.

  Read more here 

End to Work and Study Permit "Flagpoling"

• Starting December 23, 2024, foreign nationals with temporary resident status in Canada can no longer apply for a work and study permits at the border. Applicants must apply online.
• Learn more here about the new rules for applying for a study permit from inside Canada. 

Read more here

Changes to Off-Campus Work Hours

• Starting November 15, 2024, eligible students are now permitted to work up to 24 hours per week off-campus without a work permit.

• Students should make sure they meet all eligibility requirements for working while you study.

  Read more here

End of Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express

• SDS and NSE Programs Ended: The Student Direct Stream (SDS) and Nigeria Student Express (NSE) programs, which provided faster processing for eligible international students, ended on November 8, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. ET.
• New Application Process: Prospective students are now required to apply through the regular study permit stream.

Read more here

Changing Institutions

• Starting November 8, 2024, you must be enrolled at the designated learning institution (DLI) listed on your study permit, and students can no longer change DLIs through their online account.
• You will need to get a new study permit by applying to extend your current one in order to change schools at the post-secondary level. A PAL is required from the new DLI.
• If you were accepted to a new DLI for the Winter or Spring 2025 semester (January 1, 2025, to May 1, 2025), you may start studying at the new DLI while your study permit extension is being processed, as long as you have applied for the extension, have a valid study permit without the DLI name printed on it, and meet all existing study permit conditions.

Read more here

Changes to PGWP Requirements

• Eligibility Requirements: Students must meet new eligibility requirements to qualify for a post-graduate work permit (PGWP).
• Students who submitted a study permit application on or after November 1, 2024, and graduated from an RRU graduate diploma or certificate program must have graduated in an eligible field of study.
• New Language Requirements: Starting November 1, 2024, students applying for a PGWP must demonstrate language proficiency results written in the last two years in English (CLB 7) or French (NCLC 7) in all four language areas.

Read more here

Study Permit Validity and Expiry

A study permit will automatically become invalid in one of the following ways, whichever comes first:

• The expiry date printed on your study permit or 90 days after you receive written confirmation of program completion (whichever comes first), or
• Starting November 8, 2024, the day you are no longer enrolled at the Designated Learning Institution named on your study permit (unless this is due to completing your studies); or
• The day a removal order becomes enforceable.

Students who did not apply for a study permit extension BEFORE their study permit becomes invalid must stop studying and working immediately and contact our immigration advising team for instructions on how to proceed.

Temp Policy Immigration Medical Exam (IME) Requirements - Extended

• Temporary public policy for immigration medical exams (IMEs) extended until October 5, 2029.
• You may be exempt from completing another IME if all conditions listed here are met.
• If you completed an IME within 5 years, include the IME or unique medical identifier number in your application.

Read more here

Distance Learning/Online Studies Outside of Canada Deducted from PGWP

• Starting September 1, 2024, time spent studying online outside Canada will be deducted from the length of the post-graduation work permit (PGWP); and

• Time studying before applying for a study permit. IRCC has final discretion.

  Read more here

End to Post-Graduation Work Permit “Flagpoling”

• Students transitioning from study permits to PGWP can no longer apply at the border to reduce flagpoling and improve border efficiency

• Students must now apply online for their PGWP

  Read more here

Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) Required for some Students

• As of January 22, 2024, a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is required for some study permit applications submitted from outside Canada.  

Read more here

Increased Proof of Funds for New Study Permit Applications

• Starting January 1, 2024, the new minimum proof of funds for a single applicant is $20,635, in addition to the first year of tuition and travel costs, in an effort to better reflect the current cost of living in Canada.
• The minimum amount of funds required per year (not including tuition) increases based on the number of family members. 

Read more here