The province of Quebec has recently updated the eligibility requirement for international students. Canada’s immigration department IRCC has revealed that international students interested in studying in Quebec will now need an attestation letter along with the CAQ from the province. Discover the details on the attestation letter from the province. 

An Attestation Letter Needed Now–Quebec Updated International Students Eligibility Requirement.

IRCC, the immigration department of Canada, has declared that it will set a limit on the number of study permit applications for 2024. 

It says that it will divide the study permit applications across the provinces and territories depending on their population size.

The department says that the provinces and territories will be in charge of putting in place a system for issuing attestation letters to interested international students in their regions.

According to IRCC, all the applicants applying for study permits will require attestation letters after January 22. However, the provinces and territories can create a system of issuing attestation letters to applicants until March 31, 2024. 

The department is establishing these new practices in order to combat misconduct in the international student market. In addition, it also aims to stabilize the growing number of temporary residents who impose a strain on Canada’s housing, healthcare, and other services. 

Understanding the CAQ requirement?

A CAQ or Certificat d’Acceptation du Quebec is a Quebec Acceptance Certificate issued to international students. It’s a compulsory immigration document for all study permit applicants who intend to study in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Quebec. 

It certifies that an applicant has satisfied the provincial standards of Quebec and, therefore, makes them eligible to study in the province. 

As Quebec has updated International Students eligibility requirements, an international student must now have a CAQ and an attestation letter before applying for a study permit. Both the documents are issued by IRCC.

Study in Quebec: Insights into the provincial educational journey

In Canada, Quebec is home to the third-highest number of international students, following Ontario and British Columbia.

Of all Canadian cities, Montreal has the largest population of international students per capita.

Quebec is well-known for having several top-notch educational institutions, including several top-ranked universities and colleges in Canada. 

Numerous international students from across the world prefer Quebec due to its lowest living costs, lower tuition fees, and rich francophone history and culture compared to other provinces in Canada.

Besides these, there are various province-specific immigration programs, like the Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) and the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), that international students in Quebec can benefit from after gaining necessary work experience in the region. 

There are additional programs for international students if they decide to immigrate outside of the province. For instance, they can benefit from federal programs such as Express Entry managed pathways. Such pathways open up additional immigration choices for students who graduated from Quebec institutions.