IRCC Updates

In November 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made a number of policy changes that impact the following groups of Algonquin College applicants for 2025 programs already in Canada:

  • Current Algonquin College students applying for a second/additional program
  • Individuals holding a study permit they received when applying to a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) other than Algonquin College
  • Individuals holding a work permit or visitor visa who have applied for their first program of study

On December 11, 2024 IRCC added new provisions to the previous policies providing a grace period to some policies, for eligible students, beginning a program at a new institution in Winter 2025 and Spring 2025.

We Are Here to Help

Algonquin College has created a series of tools designed to assist applicants to programs starting in Winter 2025, Spring 2025 and onwards, who are already inside Canada, to understand their study permit requirements and eligibility for a Post-Graduation Work Permit after future studies, in light of new Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announcements.

Please review this page to understand what actions you may need to take to ensure your ability to start your studies successfully.

Important Information Regarding IRCC Announcements and Changes

PGWP Reforms: Applicants: October 31st, 2024 deadline
PGWP Reforms: Applicants/Students: November 1st, 2024
PGWP Reforms: Current Students
IRCC Policy Related Frequently Asked Questions
Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs)
PAL Frequently Asked Questions

 

PGWP Reforms: Current Applicants

APPLICANTS WHO HELD A STUDY PERMIT OR SUBMITTED THEIR STUDY PERMIT APPLICATION BEFORE NOVEMBER 1st, 2024

The following change will impact international students who held a study permit or submitted their study permit application before November 1st, 2024:

  • Students applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit on or after November 1st, 2024, will be required to demonstrate a minimum language proficiency in English or French. College graduates will require a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 5 in French, in all 4 language areas, using an IRCC-approved test. Find your language test equivalency here.
  • Graduates can use a number of IRCC recognized tests, including IELTS (General Training), Pearson PTE Core, and TEF-Canada to demonstrate the minimum language level. The results of the test must be less than two years old on the date students apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit. IELTS (Academic) cannot be used for proof of language proficiency.
  • International students who held a study permit or submitted a study permit application before November 1st, 2024 will be exempt from the “Field of study requirement” for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) upon completion of their current program.
  • Study permit extension on or after November 1, 2024:

    • Current program: Students applying for a study permit extension for the program they were studying in Fall 2024 and who intend to apply for a PGWP after completing that program, are exempt from the field of study requirement if it is the program that was named on their study permit application prior to November 1, 2024. They will be required to meet all other PGWP eligibility requirements including meeting the language proficiency requirement.
    • Second/Additional Program: Students applying for a study permit extension for a second/ additional program will be required to meet the new field of study requirement if intending to combine the duration of both programs for their PGWP. Students must also meet the new language proficiency requirement when applying for their PGWP.
        • Current students may also apply for a PGWP after completion of their first program, even if they are pursuing a second program that does not meet the field of study requirement. Please submit an ‘Ask the IEC’ Help Ticket for PGWP application submission deadlines and other inquires about these changes.
  • For current applicants who did not submit a study permit application before November 1st, 2024, please see the following information regarding the updated PGWP eligibility rules: PGWP Reforms: Future Applicants and Students.

PGWP Reforms: Future Applicants and Students

APPLICANTS WHO APPLY FOR THEIR STUDY PERMIT AFTER OCTOBER 31, 2024

  • As of November 1st, 2024, students applying for a study permit for a program delivered by a public college will need to graduate from a field of study linked to occupations where there is a long-term labour shortage, as defined by the Government of Canada, to be eligible for a PGWP of up to three years.
  • Algonquin College PGWP Eligible Programs List: Algonquin College has reviewed the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) definitions used to identify fields of study linked to long-term labour market shortages, as defined by IRCC and we have created a list of Algonquin College programs that we believe meets the IRCC field of study requirements for PGWP eligibility as of November 1, 2024. PGWP eligibility is not based on program quality or regional labour market demands but on national long-term labour market needs identified by IRCC. Please note that this list may be subject to change in the future, and we recommend that you check our list regularly.

  • Any Algonquin College applicant who did not submit their Study Permit application before November 1st, 2024, and has a Letter of Acceptance for a program which is not PGWP eligible under the new rules can request to be moved to the first available intake of a PGWP eligible program, provided they meet the program admission requirements or receive a full refund should the student’s original program no longer be PGWP eligible.
  • All students applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit on or after November 1st, 2024, will be required to demonstrate a minimum language proficiency in English or French. College graduates will require a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 5 in French, in all 4 language areas, using an IRCC-approved test. Find your language test equivalency here.

PGWP Reforms: Current Students

The following change will impact international students currently enrolled at Algonquin College: 

  • International students currently enrolled in post-secondary programs will remain eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) following their current program of study under PGWP eligibility and validity rules which were in place prior to the new announced changes if it is the program named on their study permit application prior to November 1, 2024.
  • Students applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit on or after November 1st, 2024, will be required to demonstrate a minimum language proficiency in English or French. College graduates will require a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 5 in French, in all 4 language areas, using an IRCC-approved test. Find your language test equivalency here.
  • Graduates can use a number of IRCC recognized tests, including IELTS (General Training), Pearson PTE Core, and TEF-Canada to demonstrate the minimum language level. Note the results of the test must be less than two years old on the date students apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit. IELTS (Academic) cannot be used for proof of language proficiency. Note: Algonquin College provides computer-delivered and paper-based IELTS (General) testing and preparation support for English speakers, in addition to TEF testing for French speakers. If you have any questions about TEF or IELTS testing at Algonquin, please contact: ielts@algonquincollege.com
  • Applying for a second program of study? Current students who will require a study permit extension to complete a second/additional program of study, will be required to meet the new field of study requirement if intending to combine the duration of both programs for their PGWP:
    • Algonquin College’s PGWP eligible programs are listed here .

Current students may also apply for a PGWP after completion of their first program, if they are pursuing a second program that does not meet the field of study requirement. Please submit an ‘Ask the IEC’ Help Ticket for PGWP application submission deadlines and other inquiries about these changes.

IRCC Policy Related Frequently Asked Questions

Note: PGWP applicants must meet all requirements to obtain a work permit after graduation. The Field of Study requirement is only one of a variety of criteria considered. Please view all PGWP eligibility criteria on IRCC’s website.

Change of PGWP Eligibility in the Future

What if I applied for a study permit with a program that is PGWP eligible but by the time I graduate and apply for a PGWP, that program is no longer on the list of PGWP eligible programs. Will I still be eligible to apply for a PGWP?

Yes. Students who enter a program that meets the field of study requirement but is later removed from the list of programs meeting this requirement will be able to apply for a PGWP. A program’s PGWP eligibility is determined at the time when you apply for the study permit.  

Study Permit for non-PGWP Eligible Programs

I am accepted to a program that is not eligible for PGWP. Will it be harder for me to obtain a study permit?

No. IRCC does not require applicants to apply for a PGWP-eligible program to obtain a study permit.  If your program of study requires a study permit, you must meet the study permit application criteria, regardless of whether the program meets PGWP eligibility. If you have not yet applied for a study permit before Nov 1, 2024, and would like to be considered for a PGWP, you must complete a program that meets the field of study requirements.

High School Student Moving to Post-Secondary

If international students with a valid study permit currently enrolled in high school in Canada get accepted to post-secondary programs before Nov 1, 2024, will they be eligible for PGWP after completing the academic program?

As of Nov 8, 2024, high school graduates will have to obtain a new study permit before starting a post-secondary program. To be eligible to apply for a PGWP, they must meet the field of study requirements. 

Maintained Status

For study permit extension applicants within the same DLI, can I start my program while waiting for the study permit extension approval? 

You can start your new program within the same DLI while waiting for your study permit extension to be approved. The field of study requirement for the PGWP eligibility will apply for the new program.

Disclaimer:
Information on this page has been reviewed by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC) and Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIA) in compliance with the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Please be aware that this is not a legal document and information may sometimes change without notice. For the most up-to-date information about Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) please refer to the IRCC website at: canada.ca/immigration or call 1-888-242-2100.

It is the international student’s responsibility to know the rules and regulations that apply to their status in Canada.

Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs)

The Government of Canada announced on January 22, 2024 significant changes to the Canadian International Student Program, one of which was to include a Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL) in the study permit application. Algonquin College is issuing Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL) for Accepted Students to be submitted as part of their Study Permit Application.

To receive a PAL, you must first confirm your seat by paying the tuition fees indicated on your Letter of Acceptance before the deadline. Before you pay your fees, confirm that the name and date of birth on the LOA are correct and complete and match your passport name and date of birth. If there are any errors, notify us in the application portal before fees are paid since the PAL will use the same name and date of birth and the information on the LOA and PAL must match.

Please monitor your student application portal as the PAL will be uploaded after your fees have been received by the college and once the PAL has been approved by the Government of Ontario. If you applied via an agent, they will receive it in their Algonquin College application portal.

Once you receive a PAL, apply for your study permit before the PAL expiry date listed on the letter. Please note that the PAL expiry date refers to the date before which your study permit application must be submitted and NOT the start date of your program.

Students already in Canada on a valid Study Permit

Students currently in Canada with a valid study permit will not need a PAL when they apply to extend their study permit.

In addition, students who submitted their study permit application prior to January 22nd, 2024, will also not be impacted.

PAL Frequently Asked Questions

What is a PAL?

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on January 22, 2024 that a provincial attestation letter (PAL) would be required for most new study permit applications. The Government of Ontario now has a PAL process in place and Algonquin College is now issuing PALs to eligible students. 

Who needs a PAL?

All new international students, with some exceptions, are required to submit a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) with their study permit application.

Please review below for a list of students who do not require a PAL:

  • In-Canada students who meet any of the following criteria are exempt from requiring a PAL:
    • Have a study permit and are applying for a study permit extension for the same DLI
    • Have a study permit that expired and can apply to restore status as a student within 90 days after the study permit expired. (Note that it may take up to 3 weeks or more for admissions assessment and the issuance of a Letter of Acceptance (LOA.)
    • Have a work permit, unless you received it through International Experience Canada.
    • Are the dependent (under 22) or spouse of a study permit holder or a work permit holder

Please see IRCC link for a complete list of exemptions to find out if you need to provide a PAL with your study permit application. 

How do I get a PAL?

To receive a PAL, you must first confirm your seat by paying the tuition fees indicated on your Letter of Acceptance before the deadline. You must indicate that you need a PAL in the chat feed of your application portal or instruct your agent (if you have one) to do so on your behalf. Before you pay your fees, confirm that the name and date of birth on the LOA are correct and complete and match your passport name and date of birth. If there are any errors, notify us in your application before fees are paid since the PAL will use the same name and date of birth. If the information on the LOA and PAL do not match, we will not be issuing a second PAL, so it is essential this information is correct.  

Please monitor your student application portal as the PAL will be uploaded after your fees have reached your account and once the PAL has been approved by the Government of Ontario. If you applied via an agent, they will receive it in their Algonquin portal. 

Once you receive a PAL, apply for your study permit before the PAL expiry date as PALs must be used for a study permit application which is begun before the PAL expiry date.  Please note that the PAL expiry date refers to the date before which your study permit application must be submitted and NOT the start date of your program.  

I do not require a PAL. Do I need to do anything else?

If you do not require a PAL, the college will ask for proof of PAL exemptions such as your study permit, work permit, proof of relationship, etc.