Study Permit

Canada’s immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), reports that the Express Entry backlog reached its highest point in more than three years as of November 30, 2025.

ITAs issued to candidates with a minimum CRS score of 533.

Universities Canada has reported a significant drop in international student enrollment, falling below the federal cap on student visas. The cap, introduced in January by the immigration minister, was aimed at managing the rising number of international students due to concerns over housing, healthcare, and other services.

The Federal Court has ruled that students do not need to pay all or part of their tuition fees for a study permit application

To qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) in Canada, international students must:

General Requirements for All Travelers to Canada

According to recent data from Statistics Canada, the country’s total population is estimated to be over 39.5 million (as of January 1, 2023). This means that, for the first time ever, Canada’s population grew by over one million people in a single year.

As of November 8, 2024, international students in Canada must apply to extend their study permit when changing post-secondary schools (Designated Learning Institutions or DLIs). This policy became fully enforced on May 1, 2025.

The simple answer is at least 3 years out of the last 5 years, but there's more nuance than that.

For 2026 study permit applicants, understanding when a PAL or TAL is required is essential, as it directly determines whether an application is accepted.

As a temporary resident in Canada, obtaining a Social Insurance Number (SIN) is essential for work and accessing government services. Here's how you can get your SIN quickly and easily:

Maintained status allows temporary residents to retain their legal status in Canada while waiting for IRCC to process their application to extend their temporary stay.

With Canada adjusting its immigration targets and reducing its temporary resident population, many individuals with expiring work permits are exploring ways to stay legally. One option is applying for a Visitor Record (VR), which extends your legal stay but does not permit work or study.

Last month, the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) proposed reforms to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to address outdated policies since its inception in 2001. Here are the key recommendations:

How to provide proof of financial support/sufficiency to study in Canada?

International students in Canada can now work 24 hours per week off-campus during academic sessions, up from the previous 20-hour limit. This change took effect on November 15 and aims to balance work opportunities with academic priorities.

A recent analysis of Canadian international students suggests that most who receive a study permit in a certain province tend to remain in that province for their next period of study or work.

According to ctvnews an Iranian student, Reza Jahantigh, is contesting the Canadian government's refusal to grant him a study permit for a PhD in computer engineering at Montreal's École de technologie supérieure.

IRCC backlog continues to rise
As of August 31, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had 958,850 applications in its backlog. This is up from 901,700 in July, marking another consecutive monthly increase.

As of October 31, IRCC’s backlog dropped to 1,056,100 applications, down from 1,097,000 in September — a 3.73% decrease and the first reduction since May 2024.