IRCC proposes amendments regarding study permits. These proposed changes were announced in the Canadian Gazette and have attracted interest due to some proposed changes to Canada’s International Student Program.   

Of particular note among the proposed changes is IRCC’s suggestion that international students who are studying in Canada wish to change their Designated Learning Institution must apply for a new study permit. DLIs are the only schools in Canada who to accept international students, and as such, they must follow the regulations set out by IRCC. 

In addition, DLIs are presently under provincial jurisdiction and subject to provincial regulations. The federal government cannot ensure that individual institutions are compliant with new admissions regulations. 

What Is IRCC Proposing For International Students Looking To Change Schools In Canada? 

IRCC proposed amendments regarding study permits. Per the release, IRCC is proposing that: 

• Students who wish to switch DLIs must apply for a new study permit before the program’s start date. 

• Students will be able to attend the new DLI without a valid study permit until there’s a decision on the application, provided they remain in Canada and comply with all other conditions of their present study permit. 

How Might This Impact International Students In Canada? 

IRCC’s proposal included an impact assessment highlighting the costs and benefits to the different stakeholders that the policy would affect. Of note when considering the above policy are the impacts on both DLIs and international students. 

For international students, there is a financial cost of $150 per new application and a time investment of 30 to 45 minutes per application preparation. Moreover, the total cost was over $55.5 million present value over ‘10 periods of 12 months.’  

In addition, the processing times might get longer because of the influx of applications, though IRCC plans to mitigate this by reallocating resources. The administrative burden and the uncertainty associated with the new requirement could disrupt student’s academic plans. 

On the other hand, DLIs will face compliance and administrative costs associated with verifying Letters of Acceptance. These Letters of Acceptance are a key part of the new study permit application process, with a total estimated cost of $4.8 million present value over ten periods. 

Initially, LOA verification will take three minutes per application, decreasing to 30 seconds as institutions become familiar with the process. 

Will The Authorities Adopt These Changes? 

IRCC proposes amendments regarding study permits. While it is impossible to say with certainty whether IRCC will implement the changes, history can indicate what might happen. 

Proposed changes to the new study permit requirements are in a 30-day ‘consultation’ phase. Since fall 2022, IRCC has consulted on numerous specific policies aimed at improving the International Student Program. These consultations included provincial and territorial ministries responsible for immigration and education, national education associations, separate DLIs, and student representative organizations. Many policies that were in consultation have since been adopted. 

For instance, one policy focus was the Letter of Acceptance verification process itself. Provincial and territorial representatives and national education associations offered feedback on the success of present ministerial instructions requiring LOA verification and suggested further leveraging this princess to share information and reduce fraud. Authorities adopted these changes on December 1st, 2023.    

The present changes to study permit requirements will be in consultation until July 29th, 2024, after which IRCC will consider feedback and decide on the following policy steps accordingly. 

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490. You can also drop us an email at [email protected].