Important Update on Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)- Canada Student Immigration policy Changes 2024

An international student doesn’t need a PAL for a study permit if he/she is;

· Applying to study in a preschool, primary school or secondary school (up to grade 12).

· Applying to study in a Master’s degree or a doctoral degree program.

· In-Canada visiting or exchange students studying at a DLI (designated learning institution)

· In-Canada study permit and work permit holders (includes study permit holders applying for an extension)

· In-Canada family members of study permit or work permit holders

· Students whose application were received before 8:30 a.m. EST on January 22, 2024

Eligibility for a longer post-graduation work permit (PGWP)

I.) 3-years post-graduation work permit will be available for a longer period to those who are graduating from a designated learning institutions master’s degree program that is of at least two years or less than 2 years and who meet all other PGWP eligibility criteria.

II.) The length of PGWPs for programs other than master’s degrees will be continuing to be to aligned with the length of the study program, to a maximum of 3 years.

PGWP eligibility for public-private partnership college programs

A.) International students currently (not the new enrolling students) enrolled will remain eligible for a PGWP if they meet other program eligibility criteria.

Work off-campus as an international student

# An international student can only work off campus in Canada when the program has started. If the student is able to work during their studies, it’ll say so in the conditions of their study permit. Also, If the student is eligible for off-campus work, one don’t need a work permit.

# If the program an international student is studying doesn’t have scheduled break; then he/ she can work up to 20 hours per week. Students can also work more than 1 job to make up these hours as long as they continue to meet the conditions of their study permit.

Note: Working more than 20 hours per week can lead loss of student status, at worst may not be approved for work/ study permit in the future or have to leave the country

# An international student can work full-time on a scheduled break- spring or fall reading week/ winter and summer holidays. He/she is also free to work overtime or work 2 part-time jobs that add up to a higher than usual number of hours.

Note: One must be a full-time student both before and after the break to work full-time. Also, one can’t work during a break that comes before start of the very first school semester.