Following a decision taken by the Canadian government last week, we wanted to share what we know so far and the impact it will have on our students.
With effect from January 22nd 2024, the Canadian government has placed a cap on the number of study permits it will issue to international students in 2024 and potentially 2025. You can find the full, official announcement here.
EC students not affected by the changes are those who:
- have submitted a study permit application before January 22nd, 2024
- are current study permit holders (study permit renewals will not be impacted)
- are coming to Canada under Temporary Resident Visas (TRV), Electronic Travel Authorizations (eTA), working holiday visas and work permits under International Experience Canada (IEC)
EC students that will be impacted by the changes are those who:
- have not yet arrived in Canada and are planning to study in Canada and did not apply for their study permit prior to January 22nd, 2024
- are currently in Canada on TRVs or eTAs and were planning to extend their current studies beyond 6 months …. extensions may be part of the cap so this may not be possible – we are awaiting further clarification on this.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IS:
The Government has advised that individual provinces are responsible for allocating study permits to designated learning institutions (including Language Schools) and the process will be publicised shortly.
Each study permit application submitted will require an attestation letter from the province. The letter of attestation is not yet available – provinces have until March 31, 2024 to put their processes in place.
The programme is said to be temporary and will last for 2 years.
EC, under the steer of Languages Canada is lobbying the Government to make Language Schools exempt from these changes and we are hopeful that our requests will be given a positive outcome.
WHAT HASN’T CHANGED
EC understands that embarking on an educational journey in a new country can be both exciting and daunting. Rest assured, our dedicated teams are here to support you and our students every step of the way. We are committed to get the answers you need, as quickly as possible. We will go above and beyond to provide the guidance and assistance you and our students require.
Canada remains an open, welcoming destination for international students seeking an enriching experience. EC Centres continue to celebrate cultural exchange and embrace individuals from all corners of the globe. From our world-class schools to our welcoming neighbourhoods, EC Toronto, EC Vancouver and EC Montreal offer a nurturing environment where students can thrive personally and academically.
Further details will be shared by EC and the Canadian government once they become available.