The benefits of submitting your application for a Canadian study permit in December 2023.

In recent updates, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have disclosed significant changes for international students in Canada, slated to be effective from January 1, 2024. In light of these developments, individuals aspiring to initiate the Canadian study permit application process may discover certain benefits by adopting a straightforward measure: initiating their study permit application in the month of December 2023. Continue reading to understand the potential advantages associated with applying for your study permit during this specific month.

On December 7th, the IRCC declared an increase in the cost-of-living stipulation for international students studying in Canada, soaring from $10,000 CAD to $20,635 CAD, responding to the escalating living expenses in the nation. The preceding $10,000 benchmark, established in the early 2000s, remained unchanged to accommodate inflation over the years. It’s imperative for all applicants, irrespective of the submission date, to exhibit financial capacity meeting the updated cost-of-living benchmark, coupled with evidence of covering first-year tuition and travel expenses, to qualify for a study permit. This adjustment, effective January 1st, 2024, mandates prospective students applying before the deadline to adhere to the previous $10,000 cost-of-living prerequisite, providing a transitional buffer. While this increase underscores IRCC’s commitment to ensuring students’ financial adequacy, those opting for the $10,000 requirement should be cognizant that it might fall short of meeting their living expenses in Canada.

In conjunction with the earlier disclosure, IRCC has affirmed its intent to prolong the accommodating provision enabling global students to engage in Canadian post-secondary education remotely, with the duration spent studying outside Canada still contributing to their PGWPs—a work pathway for international graduates in Canada. This pathway aligns with the program’s duration (up to three years). To qualify for PGWP eligibility through remote learning:

• Less than 50% of total program time should be spent in remote learning from outside Canada.
• The program must commence before September 1st, 2024.

By leveraging this, students seeking study permits in December might optimally exploit remote learning options (subject to school approval), potentially saving on living expenses by residing at home. Study permit eligibility entails a letter of acceptance from a DLI, valid passports, photos, financial proof, CAQ for Quebec, admissibility, and compliance with IRCC requests. The Student Direct Stream (SDS) offers expedited processing within 20 days for eligible applicants from specific countries.