Dear Mr Brown:

I am still planning on pursuing a programme in trades for January 2025 in Toronto. However, I want to know if this will still entitle me to a post-graduation work permit after studies, based on all of the changes that I am hearing about regarding Canadian immigration law.

– JAB

Dear JAB:

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Marc Miller recently outlined several changes to Canada’s international student programme. The changes include:

Post-graduation eligibility

• Degree graduates will remain eligible for a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) of up to three years. However, starting November 1, 2024, study permit applicants pursuing college credentials will only be eligible for a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), if their programme is deemed to meet labour market need. Provinces will be responsible for identifying eligible programmes based on local need, and the federal government may also identify programmes that meet national labour market requirements.

• Starting November 1, 2024, PGWP applicants will be required to demonstrate their English (or French) language proficiency. For college graduates, this will require a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 5. For University Graduates, the CLB score of 7.

Further cap in international students

• A further reduction in the intake cap on international student study permits for 2025, based on a 10 per cent reduction from the 2024 target of 485,000 new study permits issued, and then stabilising the intake cap for 2026 such that the number of study permits issued remains the same as 2025. For 2025, this means reducing study permits issued to 437,000.

• Next year, master’s and PhD students will be included in Canada’s international student cap and require Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) to facilitate their study permit applications.

Spouse of master’s students

• Limiting work permit eligibility, later this year, to spouses of master’s degree students to only those whose programme is at least 16 months in duration.

• Limiting work permit eligibility later this year to spouses of foreign workers in management or professional occupations or in sectors with labour shortages — under Canada’s work permit programs (Temporary Foreign Worker Program and International Mobility Programme).

International students who are currently in Canada, and those who apply for their study permit before November 1, 2024, are NOT impacted by the PGWP eligibility changes. These students will, however, be required to submit a language proficiency score (minimum CLB 5) with their PGWP application.

We eagerly await the provincial and federal government to confirm programmes that will be PGWP-eligible for study permit applicants after November 1, 2024.

Sheridan College Webinar

As the local agent of Sheridan, I will be hosting a free online seminar with a representative from Sheridan College on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 6:00 pm. It is open to the general public. Should you be interested, you may speak with a Sheridan representative about the programmes, as well as learn about scholarships, study permits, work permits and applying for permanent residence.

To register, please send an e-mail to: anaita.mcintyre@sheridancollege.ca

Please visit JAMAICA2CANADA.COM for additional information on Canadian Work Permits, Study Permits, Visas, International Student Loan, Permanent Residence and/or Appeals, etc.

– Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is a licensed Canadian employment recruiter, accredited Canadian education agent and immigration counsel
of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM—a Canadian immigration firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments
to documents.jamaica2canada@gmail.com