Canada Immigration News

Those who have applied under the Home Child Care Provider (HCCP) and Home Support Worker Pilot (HSW) will now need less Canadian work experience to qualify for permanent residence.

Starting Fall 2024, Canada will allow international students to work off-campus for 24 hours per week during classes and full-time during academic breaks. Canada’s new policy offers more flexibility for international students to work compared to other top destinations, aiming to balance work opportunities with academic commitments.

As of September 2024, international students in Canada are now permitted to work up to 24 hours per week off-campus. This policy change, announced by Immigration Minister Marc Miller in April 2024, is designed to provide students with more flexibility while supporting their financial needs.

If your Canadian work permit is close to expiring, starting a study program can be one way to stay in Canada and keep your permanent residence (PR) plans alive. In the right situation, studying can strengthen your immigration profile. In the wrong one, it can slow you down.

Here is a clear, simplified breakdown.

When studying can help
Studying in Canada is usually a smart move if you already qualify for a PR pathway or have an active Express Entry or provincial profile. A Canadian credential can raise your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score through higher education points, skill-transferability bonuses, and extra points for Canadian education. It can also open the door to graduate-focused Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams, where a nomination adds 600 CRS points and almost guarantees an invitation.

For some people, studying is also a clean way to stay legally in Canada while waiting for an invitation to apply.

When studying can hurt
Studying can be risky if you rely on full-time work income, since study permits limit off-campus work hours. It is also risky if your PR plan depends on counting student work toward Canadian Experience Class eligibility, as that work does not qualify. Another common mistake is assuming you can get a second Post-Graduation Work Permit. You cannot. A PGWP is issued only once.

Your PR profile can stay active
If you already have an Express Entry profile, it can remain active even if you change from a work permit to a study permit, as long as you still meet program rules. The same is often true for PNP streams, though some provinces have specific status or work history requirements.

Studying may be easier to access in 2026
Canada is currently admitting fewer international students than planned. In addition, as of January 1, 2026, master’s and PhD students at public institutions no longer need a provincial attestation letter. This removes one administrative barrier, especially for graduate programs.

The bottom line
Studying in Canada can be a strong immigration strategy if it clearly improves your PR chances or leads to a provincial nomination. If it mainly replaces full-time work with limited hours and no clear pathway forward, it can delay or weaken your plans. The decision only works when it fits a realistic PR strategy, not as a last-minute fix.

Temporary residents in Canada, including those on Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP), employer-specific work permits, or other valid temporary permits, whose status is expiring before their permanent residence (PR) is approved should consider applying for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).

IRCC has clarified that candidates can claim Canadian and foreign work experience for the same period. This means someone working in Canada while also employed remotely for a company abroad can count both experiences toward Express Entry points.

Alongside the cost-of-living requirement, IRCC also announced that it is extending the waiver on the 20 hours of work per week cap for international students until April 30, 2024. Only students already in Canada, as well as those who have already submitted an application for a study permit as of December 7th, 2023, are eligible for this extension.

Not all foreign nationals require a work permit. There are 22 specific groups eligible to work without one:

Short answer: Yes — but it depends on your immigration status. Let’s break it down:

International students in Canada may be eligible to work while completing their studies, provided their study permit includes work authorization.

On August 2, on the 10th anniversary of the massacre in Sinjar, Yazidi survivors gathered at Queen’s Park in Toronto to urge the Canadian government to fulfill its promise of reuniting them with family members left behind.

Canada is celebrating Citizenship Week.

May 23 to May 29 is Citizenship Week in Canada where we celebrate what it means to be Canadian from the rights and freedoms we enjoy, to the responsibilities we share, and the diversity that makes us strong. For those of you who had at least one Canadian parent, you might be a citizen even if you were born abroad.

A 2025 national poll shows strong support for immigration among younger Canadians, in contrast to older generations who are more cautious. While opinions differ on the number of newcomers Canada should welcome, most people across the country agree that immigrants play a vital role in making Canada stronger.

Temporary foreign workers in Canada are protected by the same labour laws as citizens and permanent residents, whether they are under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program.

On October 1, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a new temporary measure allowing work permits for up to 215 Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) candidates. This will enable eligible foreign nationals to continue working in Yukon while their permanent residence applications are processed.