immigration
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Updates - January 2024
The information on this page is current as of February 8, 2024 and will be updated as more details become available.
On January 22, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced changes to the International Student Program. These changes impact outside Canada study permit applications, the eligibility criteria for an open work permit for spouses and common-law partners of full-time study permit holders, and the Post-graduation work permit (PGWP) program.
Keep reading below for more information about each item, as the impact may be different for undergraduate and graduate students. We will regularly update this webpage as more information becomes available about each policy change.
Study permit application
As of January 22, 2024, IRCC is setting an intake cap on study permit applications for a two-year period. The number of new study permit applications that will be accepted in 2025 will be re-assessed at the end 2024. In addition, as of 8:30 a.m. ET on January 22, 2024, most new post-secondary students applying for a study permit are required to submit a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from the province or territory where they intend to study.
As per the IRCC website, the following groups of students will not require an attestation letter when applying for a study permit and will not be impacted by the above updates:
- Students inside Canada applying to extend or change the conditions of their study permit
- Students applying for an initial study permit to study in a Master’s or PhD degree program
- Students whose complete study permit application was received by IRCC before 8:30 a.m. ET on January 22, 2024
- Minor children applying to study in a primary or secondary school (kindergarten to grade 12)
Please review the IRCC website for more information about who does not require a PAL.
Canadian provinces and territories are required to establish a process for students to obtain an attestation letter by March 31, 2024. SFU is in regular communication with the provincial government in British Columbia, and we will share relevant updates as soon as more information is announced.
Current SFU students in Canada applying to extend or change conditions of a study permit
The process to extend or change the conditions of your study permit from inside Canada remains unchanged and you will not be required to submit a provincial attestation letter (PAL). If your study permit will be expiring soon, please review our instruction guides below for step-by-step information about the application process and documents required.
Note: On January 30, 2024, IRCC released a new version of the study permit extension application form (IMM 5709 – Application to extend my stay, change conditions or remain in Canada as a student). If you apply for a study permit extension on or after January 30, 2024 you must include the new version of the form in your application.
If you are transferring to SFU from another designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada, ensure that you complete the DLI transfer process. Instructions for how to complete the DLI transfer are found on the IRCC website.
New students for the Summer and Fall 2024 terms
If you applied for your study permit before 8:30 a.m. ET on January 22, 2024
IRCC will review your application following the requirements under the previous study permit application process. You are not required to obtain a provincial attestation letter (PAL). No action is needed on your part.
If you applied for your study permit on or after 8:30 a.m. ET on January 22, 2024
SFU Undergraduate Students
Without a provincial attestation letter (PAL), IRCC will return your application with a refund. You can reapply for your study permit once you have received the PAL.
Since the process for issuing the PAL is still being established, this means you cannot apply for your study permit now and must wait. Once we receive information regarding the process, we will let you know.
SFU Graduate Students
Students in Master’s or PhD degree program
You do not require a provincial attestation letter (PAL) to apply for a study permit. IRCC will review and process your application.
Students pursuing a graduate program other than a degree program
If you will be studying in a graduate program that does not lead to a SFU degree (e.g. a prerequisite, certificate or diploma program), you require a PAL. Without a PAL, IRCC will return your application with a refund. You can reapply for your study permit once you have received the PAL.
Since the process for issuing the PAL is still being established, this means you cannot apply for your study permit now and must wait. Once we receive information regarding the process, we will let you know.
SFU Undergraduate and Graduate Exchange Students
Exchange students who will be studying at SFU for more than 6 months require a study permit. Undergraduate and graduate exchange students who will be applying for a study permit from outside Canada require a PAL.
Without a PAL, IRCC will return your application with a refund. You can reapply for your study permit once you have received the PAL.
SFU Undergraduate and Graduate Visiting Research Students (VRS)
Undergraduate and graduate Visiting Research Students who will be applying for a study permit from outside Canada will require a provincial attestation letter (PAL). Without a PAL, IRCC will return your application with a refund. You can reapply for your study permit once you have received the PAL.
Not all VRS require a study permit. The appropriate immigration document(s) for a VRS visit depend several factors including length of visit, funding arrangements, and the scope of research activity.
If you have not yet applied for your study permit
SFU Undergraduate Students
Wait until you have the provincial attestation letter (PAL) before submitting your outside Canada study permit application. While you are waiting for the PAL, you can start preparing your study permit application and gather applicable supporting documents. This way, your application will be ready to submit once you obtain the attestation letter.
- Visit our website for information about applying for a study permit from outside Canada
- Visit the IRCC website for information about documents required in a study permit application
Note: New students for the Summer and Fall 2024 terms that are inside Canada and holding a study permit do not require attestation letter to apply to extend their study permit.
We strongly recommended that you monitor the IRCC website for the most up-to-date information, and we will also provide further information and details to students as they become available.
SFU Graduate Students
Students in Master’s or PhD degree program
You do not require a provincial attestation letter (PAL) to apply for a study permit and you may submit your application to IRCC as soon as you have prepared all required forms and supporting documents. Apply early to ensure that your application is processed in time.
- Visit our website for information about applying for a study permit from outside Canada
- Visit the IRCC website for information about documents required in a study permit application
Graduate Students pursuing a study program other than a degree program
If you will be studying in a graduate program that does not lead to a SFU degree (e.g. a prerequisite, certificate or diploma program), you require a provincial attestation letter (PAL). Wait until you have the PAL before submitting your outside Canada study permit application.
While you are waiting for the PAL, you can start preparing your study permit application and gather applicable supporting documents. This way, your application will be ready to submit once you obtain the attestation letter.
- Visit our website for information about applying for a study permit from outside Canada
- Visit the IRCC website for information about documents required in a study permit application
Note: New students for the Summer and Fall 2024 terms that are inside Canada and holding a study permit do not require a PAL to apply to extend their study permit.
We strongly recommended that you monitor the IRCC website for the most up-to-date information, and we will also provide further information and details to students as they become available.
SFU Undergraduate and Graduate Exchange Students
Exchange students who will be studying at SFU for more than 6 months require a study permit. Undergraduate and graduate exchange students who will be applying for a study permit from outside Canada require a provincial attestation letter (PAL).
Wait until you have the PAL before submitting your outside Canada study permit application. While you are waiting for the PAL, you can start preparing your study permit application and gather applicable supporting documents. This way, your application will be ready to submit once you obtain the attestation letter.
- Visit our website for information about applying for a study permit from outside Canada
- Visit the IRCC website for information about documents required in a study permit application
Note: New students for the Summer and Fall 2024 terms that are inside Canada and holding a study permit do not require attestation letter to apply to extend their study permit.
SFU Undergraduate and Graduate Visiting Research Students (VRS)
Undergraduate and graduate Visiting Research Students who will be applying for a study permit from outside Canada will require a provincial attestation letter (PAL). If you will be applying for a study permit, wait until you have the PAL before submitting your outside Canada study permit application.
Not all VRS require a study permit. The appropriate immigration document(s) for a VRS visit depend several factors including length of visit, funding arrangements, and the scope of research activity.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
Starting on February 15, 2024, students who meet all PGWP eligibility criteria and who are completing a master's degree program that is less than 2 years in duration can apply for a 3-year post-graduation work permit.
The length of PGWP issued for all other SFU study programs other than master’s degrees will continue to align with the length of the study program, to a maximum of 3 years. The eligibility criteria for a PGWP also remain the same.
Visit the IRCC website for more information.
Open Work Permit eligibility for Spouses and Common-law Partners of Study Permit Holders
In the weeks ahead, an open work permit issued under Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemption C42 will only be available to spouses and common-law partners of international students in Master’s and Doctoral degree programs. Spouses and common-law partners of international students in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible for this work permit.
Spouses and common-law partners of current international students seeking to extend their existing work permit under LMIA exemption C42 will continue to be eligible under this stream. This includes spouses and common-law partners of current undergraduate students who already hold this open work permit.
Please visit the IRCC website for more information. Further details on this policy will be announced by IRCC in the coming weeks.
Next steps
As we wait for more details to be announced by IRCC, we recommend that you monitor the IRCC website for the most up to date information. We are also in the process of updating our online resources. You can revisit this webpage and check our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for International Students for updates as they become available.
If you have questions, connect with an International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist for assistance.
IRCC announcements
If you would like to review the recent IRCC announcements related to the International Student Program, you can find them linked below.