The IRCC has announced changes to PGWP eligibility and a tighten cap on study permits.

The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), presented important new measures targeted at regulating the influx of temporary residents, particularly international students and foreign workers, in response to the changing needs of the immigration system in Canada.

Key Changes:

1. A decrease in study permits starting in 2025:
A 10% decrease from the 485,000 study permits the government had planned for 2024 will result in 437,000 permits being awarded in 2025.

The intake cap for 2026 will stay at the level of 2025, which will stabilize the quantity of new study permits that are granted. The goal of this cut is to guarantee that foreign students in Canada can receive sufficient assistance for their academic pursuits and potential career possibilities.

2. Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program Updates:
New language proficiency standards will be implemented for PGWP applicants starting in November 2024. College graduates must achieve a CLB level of five, whereas university graduates must achieve a level of seven.
Furthermore, candidates for a three-year PGWP must be graduates of programs related to long-term shortage occupations.

3. Modifications to Foreign Student and Worker Spouses’ Work Permit Eligibility:
Only spouses of master’s degree candidates enrolled in courses lasting at least 16 months will be qualified for work permits later this year.
Furthermore, spouses of foreign workers in management or professional positions, or in industries experiencing a labor shortage, will only be granted work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).