The IRCC has been working to implement new immigration policy updates in Canada to reduce the influx of temporary residents to the country. This follows IRCC’s announcement in January 2024 where there was a proposed reduction in temporary residents from 6.5% of the country’s population to 5% by 2026.
These recent policy updates in Canada involve reforming certain work permit programs and the international student program. Certain eligibility requirements and benefits have been tightened to manage the volume of temporary residents arriving and ensure they can be supported adequately throughout their stay in Canada. These new policy updates are set to be implemented from November 1st, 2024.
Policy updates in Canada for temporary residents
In this article, we share the recent policy updates in Canada and what they mean. You can read more about the other policy updates in Canada and some FAQs on the PAL requirement. Here are 5 immigration policies to be introduced in Canada from November 1st, 2024.
- New language requirement
The IRCC announced that from November 1st 2024, Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) applicants will be required to meet a new English or French language requirement. This minimum language proficiency requirement will ensure applicants can transition and adapt to their permanent residence. The Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 has been set for university graduates and level 5 for college graduates applying for a PGWP after November 1, 2024.
- Reduction in Study Permits for 2025
Following 2024’s approved study permit cap set at 485,000, the Canadian government has decided to reduce the 2025 study permit cap by 10%. This means the number of approved study permits for 2025 will be set at 435,000. This immigration policy is set to control the housing and public resources crisis resulting from the high influx of international students in Canada. This way international students will receive needed support during their study program and career journey in Canada.
- Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Qualification
Graduates from public colleges will still qualify for a 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) if they graduate from a program linked to labour-shortage occupations. This policy is to ensure students that who transition into the labour market can better align with immigration and labour market needs. For now, the IRCC has not given a date for when this policy will kick off.
- Spousal work permit changes
IRCC has also introduced new updates limiting spousal work permit eligibility. Only spouses of Masters students in programs up to 16 months will qualify for a spousal work permit. This limit also applies to spouses of foreign workers. Canada’s existing work permit programs (TFWP and IMP) will limit the issuance of work permits to spouses of workers in management, professional roles or labour-shortage occupations. These policies aim to address critical labour gaps in the Canadian economy.
- PAL requirement update
The temporary cap on study permits for 2025 will also include Masters and PhD students. International students applying for these programs in 2025 will now be required to submit a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or a Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) along with their study permit application. The goal of these policy updates in Canada is to ensure the cap on international students for the year is not exceeded.
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