British Columbia's New Study Permit Rules
As of March 4, 2024, British Columbia has activated its new Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) system, a crucial step for international students aiming to study in the province.
Gurmeet Sharma
The PAL is now a mandatory part of the study permit application process for international students, serving as proof of acceptance by a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) within British Columbia's allocated quota. The provincial government distributes PALs to educational institutions, which then pass them on to students.
For the year 2024, British Columbia has been allocated 83,000 undergraduate study permit applications by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), anticipating around 50,000 approvals based on historical data. This is a reduction from the previous year's 97,000 applications and 60,000 approvals, reflecting a strategic move to manage growth and ensure sustainability in the sector.
The distribution of PALs sees a majority of 53% allocated to public post-secondary institutions, with the remaining 47% designated for private institutions. This represents a 27% decrease in allocations for private institutions compared to 2023, addressing concerns over rapid expansion in the sector.
This initiative by British Columbia precedes similar expected measures from other provinces, aligning with IRCC's broader strategy to cap study permit issuances at 360,000 for 2024, marking a 35% decrease from 2023. This cap is set to align with provincial populations, with British Columbia being Canada's third most populous province.
Additionally, the cap is accompanied by changes to Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility and upcoming modifications to Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWP), particularly affecting spouses or partners of international students in undergraduate programs.
The cap's introduction responds to concerns voiced by Immigration Minister Marc Miller about the unsustainable growth and challenges within Canada's international education system, including housing shortages and substandard living conditions for students.
British Columbia is also implementing further measures to enhance the quality and sustainability of its international student program. These include a temporary halt on new approvals for post-secondary institutions to enroll international students and heightened standards and assessment criteria for private degree programs. New language proficiency requirements for students at private institutions aim to better prepare them for their educational journey in British Columbia.
These comprehensive steps underscore British Columbia's commitment to maintaining a high-quality, sustainable international education sector that benefits both the province and its international student community.
