New Canadian Student Visa Regulations: Safeguarding International Students

Requirements Set by Canada to Better Protect International Students

Canada has long been a favoured destination for students aspiring to study abroad. Universities in Canada offer high-quality educational programmes, including post-graduation opportunities. However, there have been many instances when Canada has been in the news for the wrong reasons, ranging from fake university letters to student visa fraud. Many international students have fallen victim to such scams.

Recently, Marc Miller, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has announced certain regulations designed to improve the international students’ experience.

In this blog, we’ll look at these revised requirements to protect international students better.

What Are the New Requirements Introduced by Canada?

Canadian authorities have introduced the following measures to safeguard their international students:

• From December 1, 2023, every post-secondary designated learning institution (DLI) must verify applicants' acceptance letters with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It's an enhanced verification process that safeguards students from false acceptance letters. This regulation is all set to ensure that only students with genuine acceptance letters receive study permits in Canada. Moreover, the regulation seeks to protect prospective students from the hassles they must undergo after receiving fraudulent acceptance letters.

• IRCC will also adopt a framework for ‘recognised institutions’ by the time the fall semester begins in 2024. This regulation is expected to benefit post-secondary DLIs, which provide exceptional services and support for international students. DLIs, which IRCC would thus recognise, will receive special treatment, such as quicker processing of study permit applications for those pupils who wish to enrol in their programmes.

• Marc Miller has also stated that IRCC is all set to evaluate the criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit programme. In the coming months, more regulations will be introduced to align the programme with the Canadian job market and the objectives of regional and Francophone immigration.

Don’t forget to check out the easy steps to get a Canada student visa.

Other Requirements that Have Been Introduced

Marc Miller has further stated that, from January 1, 2024, the financial requirements for applicants seeking study permits would be raised. It would prepare international students looking at Canada for their higher education for a better life.

The upper limit will be adjusted yearly in the coming years with Statistics Canada updating the low-income cut-off (LICO). This threshold stands for the minimum income required for an individual to study in Canada. It would help ensure that a student doesn’t have to spend more than his/her average income on necessities. Remember that Canada's cost of living requirement for applicants seeking study permits hasn’t changed since the early 2000s. At that time, it was set at $10,000 for a single student. However, what's important to note is that the cost of living has increased rapidly, and students have had to learn the inadequacy of their funds the hard way.

So, in 2024, a study permit applicant must show he/she has $20,635. It represents nearly 75% of his/her LICO, travel costs, and first-year tuition fees. If you need any assistance regarding sending applications to Canadian universities, then seek the help of Azent, the best overseas education consultant in India.

Why Was the Cost-of-living Threshold Revised in Canada?

According to Marc Miller, the rules regarding the cost of living were revised in Canada so that incoming international students truly understand the cost of living in the country.

The revised regulations and requirements are expected to prevent fraudsters from brutally exploiting students. Canadian authorities have further planned to introduce certain new ideas that would help underrepresented international students pursue their higher education in Canada.

The Government of Canada has stated that it is responsible for international students. This is to ensure they have adequate means to support themselves when they come in to study in Canada. The authorities are further gearing up to limit the number of student visas.

Why, you may ask. This step will ensure that DLIs support their students adequately in their academic journey.

Updates on Temporary Policies Affecting International Students

• Earlier, international students were allowed to work only 20 hours per week in Canada. However, this rule has a waiver, which will continue till April 30, 2024. The rule that allowed international students to count the time spent studying online to pursue a post-graduation work permit in the future will continue to be in place for pupils who begin their study programmes before September 1, 2024.

• Here, you must remember an important point. The time spent studying online should be less than 50% of the total study programme. This rule will not apply to people who begin studying in Canada after September 1, 2024.

• Did you know there was a temporary policy stating that international post-graduation work permit holders would get an extra 18 months of work permit? It was introduced as a response to labour-market disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent recovery. While international students with a post-graduation work permit with an expiry date of December 31, 2023, can apply, the policy won't be extended further.

Check out some of the crucial details about work-permit after study in Canada.

Final Words

If you wish to study abroad in Canada, then you must consider the revised requirements, rules, and regulations introduced by the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. You’ll get a better idea about what's in store for you.