Reduction and changes to the study permit and PGWP in Canada

Not everyone will be eligible for the PGWP

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Once again, Minister Marc Miller announced important changes for international students in Canada who will now have a new 10% cap on their study permits by 2025 and further consolidation in 2026, as well as additional post-graduation work permit requirements.

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On September 18, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reiterated the efforts of its immigration system to preserve its integrity, improve the management of its resources and make Canada a sustainable country. In this Immiland article, I will provide you with significant details of these new changes, but not without a call for calm. We know that this news may be alarming, however, it is necessary to be informed, but above all prepared to know how to deal with the Canadian immigration system from the understanding of its objectives for the coming years. 

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How many study permits will be issued from 2025 onwards?

IRCC will issue 437,000 study permits in 2025, thus meeting the 10% reduction compared to this year's 2024 projected figure of 485,000. It is further expected that by 2026 this reduction will stabilize. 

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The government estimates that 300,000 fewer study permits will be issued to international students in the coming years, with the full intention of preparing newcomers for success, according to IRCC itself.

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Important: if you are processing your study permit or PGWP and have doubts about your process, you can request an immigration consultation with an Immiland regulated advisor. 

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How do these changes affect PWGP?

The main change affects master's and doctoral degrees in Canada, as from now on students will have to apply for the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). Recall that the PAL requirement was implemented earlier this year for many undergraduate and graduate students as a way to control and improve the verification of study permit applications in order to ensure their genuineness and avoid forgeries and scams. 

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In Minister Miller's own words, "in recognition of the benefits they bring to the Canadian labor market, the department will reserve approximately 12% of the places allocated for these students," referring to master's and doctoral students. And the projection he makes for the next three years is 175,000 fewer issues in PGWPs.

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There are more modifications you should know about and start processing from now on. For a review of your case or processing of your PGWP, you can quote with us here. 

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What requirements must now be met to be eligible for PWGP?

University graduates will now be required to demonstrate a language level of CLB 7 on the official Canadian Language Benchmark scale, and CLB 5 for college graduates applying after November 1 of this year. 

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Fewer open work permits for spouses 

As announced by IRCC, spouses of master's degree students whose program of study lasts at least 16 months will be less likely to obtain a work permit, projecting a cap on new issuances and a reduction over the next three years with 50,000 fewer work permits for spouses.

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On the other hand, even without being linked to the international student's program, open work permits will also be limited for spouses of Canadians or permanent residents who are employed in critical employment sectors. 

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The objective behind the changes in Canadian immigration

We know that all these measures may discourage many international students and their partners, but it is also important to understand that the announcement of September 18, 2024 corresponds to a firm objective of the Canadian government to stop the excessive number of temporary residents in Canada with work permits to ensure a fair labor market for the general public, avoid abuses and labor exploitation with payments well below the Canadian cost of living and ensure a fair, balanced and growing economy for the foreseeable future. 

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In the face of adversity, the call is to adapt to new changes. For the transition to permanent residence in Canada, it is necessary to improve the language profile, the importance of the government in this linguistic skill (English and French) is becoming more and more consolidated, in addition, Minister Boissonnault has opportunely pointed out that 99% of Canada's economic growth is sustained by immigration and projects an increase in this percentage for the next 7 to 10 years. It remains to wait for more information on the matter and to seek specialized professional help to know what actions to take.

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I invite you to stay updated with our blog and social platforms, which you will find at the end of this article. Thank you for reading to the end. For a consultation with our team, you can write to us here.

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With love,

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Immiland