New Rules for International Students in Canada: Reapplying for Study Permits
Canada proposes new rules requiring international students to reapply for study permits when changing schools, aiming to enhance compliance and reduce fraud.
Gurmeet Sharma
A recent announcement in the Canadian Gazette has garnered attention due to proposed changes to Canada’s international student program.
One key proposal is that international students wishing to change their Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada must apply for a new study permit. DLIs are the only schools in Canada approved to accept international students and must adhere to specific regulations.
Currently, DLIs fall under provincial jurisdiction, and the federal government lacks mechanisms to ensure compliance with new admissions regulations.
Proposed Changes:
- Students switching DLIs must apply for a new study permit before starting the new program.
- Students can attend the new DLI without a valid study permit until a decision is made, provided they remain in Canada and comply with other conditions of their current study permit.
Impact on International Students:
- Financial cost of $150 per new application and a time investment of 30 to 45 minutes per application, totaling $55.5 million in Present Value (PV) over ten years.
- Potential longer processing times due to increased applications, though reallocation of resources is planned to mitigate this.
- Administrative burden and uncertainty may disrupt academic plans.
Impact on DLIs:
- Compliance and administrative costs for verifying Letters of Acceptance (LOAs), estimated at $4.8 million PV over ten years.
- Initially, LOA verification is expected to take three minutes per application, decreasing to 30 seconds as institutions become familiar with the process.
Adoption of Changes:
- The proposed changes are currently in a 30-day consultation phase, ending on July 29, 2024. Feedback from various stakeholders, including provincial and territorial ministries, national education associations, DLIs, and student representative organizations, will be considered before finalizing the policy.
- Previous consultations on the International Student Program have led to adopted policies, such as the LOA verification process implemented on December 1, 2023.
The future adoption of these changes will depend on the feedback received and the subsequent policy decisions made by the authorities.
