IRCC Proposes New Rules for International Students Switching Schools in Canada

In a recent announcement, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shared some proposed changes to Canada’s international student program in the Canadian Gazette. These changes have caught the attention of many, especially the requirement for students to re-apply for a study permit if they change their Designated Learning Institution (DLI).

Key Proposed Change: Re-applying for Study Permits

One major proposed change is that international students wanting to transfer to a different DLI must apply for a new study permit. DLIs are the only schools in Canada authorized to accept international students, and they must comply with IRCC regulations. Currently, DLIs fall under provincial jurisdiction, and the federal government can't ensure each school meets new admission standards.

Details of the Proposal

The IRCC proposes that:

• Students wishing to change DLIs must submit a new study permit application before starting their new program.
• Students can attend the new DLI without a valid study permit until their application is processed, as long as they stay in Canada and comply with the conditions of their current permit.
  
  

Impact on International Students

This proposal will have several impacts on international students and DLIs:

For Students:

• There will be a $150 fee for each new application.
• Preparing an application will take about 30 to 45 minutes, with total costs estimated at $55.5 million over 10 years.
• Processing times may increase due to more applications, but IRCC plans to manage this by reallocating resources.
• The new requirement could disrupt students' academic plans due to administrative burdens and uncertainty.
  
  

For DLIs:

• DLIs will face compliance and administrative costs for verifying Letters of Acceptance (LOAs) as part of the new application process, estimated at $4.8 million over 10 years.
• Initially, LOA verification is expected to take three minutes per application, decreasing to 30 seconds as schools adapt to the process.
  
  

Will These Changes Happen?

It’s uncertain if IRCC will fully implement these proposed changes, but past actions provide some clues. The proposed changes are currently in a 30-day consultation phase. Since fall 2022, IRCC has consulted with various stakeholders, including provincial and territorial ministries, national education associations, individual DLIs, and student organizations, on several policies aimed at improving the International Student Program. Many consulted policies have been adopted.