Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated the public guidance for study permits and post-graduate work permits (PGWP) to clarify compliance and eligibility requirements. The revised files detail strict conditions regarding institution transfers, periods of leave, and the automatic invalidation of study permits 90 days after program completion. Officials also confirmed the expiration of a temporary policy that previously allowed certain work permit holder

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its program delivery instructions for the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot. Effective January 1, 2026, staff no longer need to manually associate organization IDs to track provincial or territorial attestation letter exceptions. The update also clarifies language testing requirements for applicants. Students must submit French language test results with a minimum score of NCLC level 5 in all four la

The Government of New Brunswick extended the Private Career College Graduate Pilot in a limited capacity until the end of 2027. This extension offers an immigration pathway to international students currently enrolled in specific programs who cannot graduate before the original deadline. Provincial officials confirmed that no new nominations will be issued once this revised period concludes. Students who do not qualify are encouraged to explore alternative streams, such as pa

New data from the 2026 Global Enrolment Benchmark Survey reveals a severe contraction in international student recruitment across Canada due to restrictive immigration policies. During the first quarter of 2026, 69 percent of Canadian universities reported a drop in new undergraduate enrolments, while 80 percent saw declines at the postgraduate level. These figures represent a second consecutive year of deterioration, contrasting sharply with growth in Asian and European mark

Conservative members of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration have called for the firing of Immigration Minister Lena Diab following her testimony regarding widespread fraud in Canada’s international student program. The committee highlighted Auditor General findings showing that 14 percent of over 150,000 individuals who entered the country fraudulently have since filed asylum claims, while the whereabouts of another 33,600 remain unknown. During the hearing,

On April 7, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced proposed amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to reduce administrative hurdles for international students and apprentices. Key changes include removing the co-op work permit requirement for students and eliminating study permit mandates for foreign apprentices under specific conditions. Furthermore, the proposal allows international graduates and students to continue w

A group of leading Canadian economists has raised concerns about recent changes to the country's immigration framework, arguing that the 2023 introduction of category-based selection has undermined the transparency of Canada's formerly merit-driven system. The shift from the Comprehensive Ranking System to ministerial discretion has created uncertainty for prospective immigrants and may reduce the inflow of highly skilled workers. With international student applications decl