On December 7, 2023, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship announced several new adjustments to the International Student Program to protect international students and prevent their exploitation.
Initially, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) acknowledged that the minimum cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants had not been updated since it was set at $10,000 in the early 2000s. As a result, it no longer reflected the actual cost of living in Canada for international students. Starting January 1, 2024, study permit applicants must demonstrate access to financial resources beyond their first-year tuition and travel costs to cover adequate housing and other living expenses in Canada. This threshold will be updated annually based on the low-income cut-off (LICO) determined by Statistics Canada, which represents the minimum income required to avoid spending more than the average portion on necessities. Effective January 1, 2024, the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants will increase to $20,635, representing 75% of the current LICO.
The Minister also provided updates on three temporary public policies affecting international students, initially set to expire in 2023.
The waiver on the limitation of international students working only up to 20 hours a week during class sessions will be extended until April 30, 2024. This means that international students in Canada and applicants who applied for a study permit before December 7, 2023, can work more than 20 hours per week off-campus during this period. IRCC is considering future options, including potentially expanding off-campus work hours to 30 hours a week during the school year.
The provision allowing international students to count online study time towards the length of a future post-graduate work permit, provided it comprises less than 50% of the program, will continue until September 1, 2024. However, this measure will no longer apply to students starting their studies on or after that date, as it was initially implemented in response to COVID-19 restrictions, and most students have returned to in-person studies.
Lastly, the temporary policy granting an additional 18-month work permit for post-graduation work permit holders will not be extended further. Individuals with a post-graduation work permit expiring up to December 31, 2023, remain eligible to apply.
If you are a student or employer with international students and have questions about these changes, please feel free to contact us.
