New Rules for International Students in Canada Starting 2024

Hello Aspiring Students!

We'd like to bring to your attention some recent updates announced by Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on December 7, 2023, impacting international students planning to study in Canada.

Starting January 01, 2024, the cost-of-living requirement for a single Study Visa applicant will be $20,635 (75% of LICO) - in addition to the first-year tuition fee and travel costs. The revised pricing is more than double the current cost-of-living requirement of $10,000.?

This adjustment, emphasized by the Minister of IRCC, aims to address the evolving financial landscape and prevent student vulnerability.

The financial requirements for international students in Canada do not align with the cost of living, causing students to fall short of their expected funds. To solve this issue, the IRCC will update the cost-of-living requirement annually based on Statistics Canada's Low-Income Cut-off (LICO) updates.?

The IRCC has also established specific guidelines for Canada's Student Direct Stream (SDS) to speed up the Canada Study Visa process for residents of 14 countries.

Extending Working Hours for International Students

International students in Canada will be able to work off campus for more than 20 hours/week while the class is in session until April 30, 2024. This applies to students already in Canada and those who have applied for a study permit by December 7, 2023.

Students are allowed to work while studying in Canada if they fulfill the following Canada student visa requirements -?

• Have a valid study permit.
• Are a full-time student at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
• Have enrolled in an academic, vocational, or professional training program - a minimum of 6 months in duration and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
• Possess a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

Read More: Steps to Apply for Canada Study Visa 2024

Updates on Post-Graduate Work Permits

The measure allowing you to include online study terms when applying for a PGWP is getting an extension until September 1, 2024. However, it’s important to note that there won’t be any more extensions beyond that date, especially for those starting a study program on or after that day.

But here’s the thing: if your initial work permit is expiring by December 31, 2023, you are still eligible to apply under the latest PGWP extension policy.

Move to Canada as an International Student in 2024

According to a statement by Marc Miller, Canada is on track to welcome over 900,000 international students in 2023, with this upward trend expected to continue into 2024.?

The Honorable Marc Miller stressed the importance of preventing student vulnerability and exploitation, recognizing the potential impact of these changes on applicants.? To bridge potential gaps, IRCC plans to launch focused pilot programs in collaboration with partners in 2024. These initiatives aim to assist underrepresented groups of international students in pursuing their studies in Canada.

Planning to study in Canada? Connect with the best Canada Visa Consultants in Bangalore today!

Kindly fill out the form??: https://bit.ly/3GL6cGS for personalized guidance.

Good luck!