New International Student Program regulations take effect

November 15, 2024—Ottawa—Canada’s diverse and inclusive society, high-quality educational institutions and potential opportunities to work or immigrate after graduation have made Canada a leading destination for students from around the world. The International Student Program must be sustainable, and students must be protected from abuse within the system.

Over the past year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has taken significant steps to ensure the sustainability of the International Student Program by rooting out fraud and protecting students from bad actors and financial vulnerability. As announced in our 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada’s temporary resident population will decrease over the next few years to align with our long­-term economic goals and strengthen the integrity and quality of our temporary resident programs.

Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, confirmed that new regulations impacting the International Student Program have now taken effect, including the change to the number of hours international students may work off campus that was proposed earlier this year. With this change, eligible students can now work up to 24 hours per week off campus while their classes are in session.

Moving forward, international students must apply and be approved for a new study permit before changing learning institutions. This change is in line with the important work we have been doing to strengthen the integrity of the International Student Program.

Designated learning institutions (DLIs) play an important role in protecting the student program against misuse. Since 2015, IRCC has been working with DLIs to strengthen student compliance reporting. There will now be consequences for DLIs that fail to submit compliance reports or verify acceptance letters. With this change, a DLI could be suspended from welcoming new international students for up to a year for failing to provide the required information.

These improvements will provide greater oversight while supporting international students and safeguarding their academic experiences in Canada.