New Policy Release in Canada

On September 18th, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Ministry of Labor jointly announced new policies regarding study permits and work permits.

1. The cap on study permits for the 2025-2026 period will now include master’s and doctoral students. Applicants are required to submit a Provincial or Territorial Letter of Support (PAL). Master’s and doctoral students will account for approximately 12% of the quota. Additionally, work permit eligibility for spouses of master's students is limited to those whose programs are at least 16 months in duration.

2. Effective November 1st, 2024, all applicants for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) must demonstrate a minimum language proficiency in French or English. Graduates from university-level programs need to achieve a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7, while those from college-level programs must meet CLB level 5.

3. To apply for a “maximum of three years” PGWP, graduates from public colleges must have studied in programs related to occupations that are “in long-term demand” in Canada.

Are you feeling confused by the above information? Let's break down the new Canadian policies further.

[Master’s and Doctoral Restrictions] The expansion of Provincial or Territorial Letter of Support (PAL) to include master's and doctoral programs indicates the urgent need of the Canadian government for high-skilled talent. There are no quota restrictions for primary and secondary school programs, so the policy change will not affect younger students studying in Canada. Students planning to study in Canada should start planning as early as possible to gain an advantage. In the long run, the policy adjustment helps Canada cultivate and attract talent that meets its long-term economic development needs, promotes industrial upgrading and innovation, and maintains economic competitiveness and sustainable development.

[Language Requirements] For PGWP applicants to submit language test results, it is considered relatively easy to achieve, as students applying to universities and colleges have already provided language scores for admission. After several years of study, the difficulty of the language test will not be significant. CLB 7 corresponds to a band score of 6 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing, and speaking) of the IELTS General Training test. CLB 5 corresponds to a band score of 4 in listening and 5 in the other three components of the IELTS General Training test, which can be considered a negligible threshold.

[Post-Graduation Work Permits] College graduates will have their PGWP duration assessed based on the shortage of their studied professions in the Canadian job market and the duration of their programs. Therefore, college applicants planning to obtain a PGWP need to consider the local employment demand for their studied professions in Canada. This policy marks a return to the employment-oriented focus of Canadian college education, facilitating students’ rapid integration into the local job market after graduation and obtaining better career development opportunities. At the same time, it has a certain restrictive effect on a country that has recently been exporting a large number of people to Canada, optimizing the study environment.