The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Marc Miller, recently announced that a series of new regulations for international students came into effect on November 15. These changes include extending the number of off-campus work hours for students during their academic terms and modifying the process for transferring between Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs).

On November 8th, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that it will no longer accept study permit applications submitted through the Student Direct Stream (SDS). Additionally, the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) program for Nigerian students has also been discontinued. Going forward, all international students must apply for a Canadian study permit through the standard application process.

On October 3, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released updated guidelines concerning the Intra-Company Transferee (ICT) work permit category. These revisions introduce a more restrictive interpretation of the ICT category, significantly impacting foreign companies seeking to establish or expand operations in Canada.

The changes to Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, which will take effect on November 1, 2024, will have a significant impact on international students who wish to work in Canada after graduation. The new language and field of study requirements, particularly for students submitting study permit applications after the deadline, add extra considerations.

Canada is considering implementing a cap on the number of international students it admits, in response to its ongoing housing affordability crisis. In 2023, a record high of nearly one million students were admitted, coinciding with a significant increase in Canadian rent prices, which rose by 22% over the last two years due to a housing shortage