Education and training

Canada tightens work permits for relatives of international students

TH (according to VnExpress) January 22, 2025 19:10

Spouses of international students and foreign workers in certain new occupations can now apply for a work permit in Canada, instead of being subject to the previous restrictions.

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University of British Columbia campus, one of the schools with eligible programs to apply for OWP in Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is implementing new restrictions, effective January 21, on open work permits (OWPs) for family members of international students and foreign nationals with work permits.

Accordingly, only spouses of students in master's programs longer than 16 months, doctoral programs or training programs in certain professions (law, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, education, engineering) are eligible to apply for OWP. Previously, spouses of international master's students in programs shorter than 16 months were still eligible.

Foreigners with a work permit valid for at least 16 months, and working in industries or occupations that are in shortage of human resources or are prioritized by the government, will be granted an OWP for their spouses. Eligible occupations under the new regulations include natural and applied sciences, construction, health care, natural resources, education, sports and military.

The policy follows a series of announcements by IRCC since September last year. According to Immigration Minister Marc Miller, Canada's immigration system must maintain its integrity, while also being well-managed and sustainable.

“Not everyone who wants to come or stay in Canada will be able to,” Marc Miller said when announcing IRCC’s intentions. At the time, Miller predicted that the change would result in 50,000 and 100,000 fewer permits for foreign students and workers over the next three years.

IRCC has been continuously changing its policy towards international students over the past year, in an effort to reduce the number of temporary residents from 6.5% of Canada's total population to 5% by 2026.

The government announced that it will issue 437,000 study permits this year, down about 10% from last year. Applicants for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) must also submit proof of English or French language proficiency. The financial proof requirement has also increased to more than CAD 20,600 ($15,200), double the CAD 10,000 requirement that has existed for decades.

Along with the US, Canada is one of the two most attractive study abroad destinations in the world, with more than one million international students by 2023. About 41% of foreign students here come from India, with Chinese students coming in second at about 12%. The number of Vietnamese students is more than 17,000.

TH (according to VnExpress)
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Canada tightens work permits for relatives of international students