Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced some proposed changes to the international student program in Canada. A key proposal is that international students who want to switch their school, known as a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), must apply for a new study permit. DLIs are schools that have approval to enroll international students and must adhere to regulations set by the IRCC.

Currently, DLIs operate under provincial jurisdiction and regulations, and the federal government lacks a system to ensure these institutions meet new admission standards.

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Key Proposal Details

• Application Requirement: Students wishing to transfer to a different DLI must apply for a new study permit before starting at the new school.

• Continued Study: Students can begin attending the new DLI without a valid study permit while waiting for the application decision, as long as they remain in Canada and follow the conditions of their current study permit.

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Potential Impact on Students and Schools

For International Students:

• Costs and Time: Each new application costs $150 and takes 30 to 45 minutes to prepare. The total cost is projected to be $55.5 million over 10 years.

• Delays: There could be longer processing times due to more applications, though the IRCC aims to manage this by shifting resources.

• Academic Disruption: The new requirement might create uncertainty and administrative burdens that could affect students' academic plans.

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For DLIs:

• Verification Costs: DLIs will incur costs for verifying Letters of Acceptance (LOAs), with an estimated total cost of $4.8 million over 10 years. Initially, verification may take three minutes per application but is expected to decrease to 30 seconds over time.

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Will These Changes Be Implemented?

The proposed changes are currently in a 30-day consultation phase ending on July 29, 2024. IRCC is gathering feedback from various stakeholders, including provincial and territorial immigration and education ministries, education associations, individual DLIs, and student organizations. In the past, similar proposals have been adopted after the consultation phase. The decision on these new study permit requirements will depend on the feedback received during this period.

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