IRCC updates: Frequently Asked Questions

I'm a current DCS student in Canada with a valid study permit. How will IRCC's new cap on study permit applications affect me?

Currently, the cap applies to new study permit applications submitted from outside Canada only.  We anticipate IRCC will release more details about any upcoming changes to cap inclusions and exemptions under the 2025 intake cap closer to January 2025. _{Updated October 16, 2024}

I'm a current DCS student and need to extend my study permit. Will I need a provincial attestation letter (PAL)?

Currently, a PAL is not required for a study permit extension application from inside Canada. For more information about the study permit extension process, see Extend your study permit.

Please contact your program area for the correct documentation, such as a study permit information letter, for your study permit extension application.

If you are outside Canada and need to apply for a new study permit before you return, you may require a PAL unless you are exempt. For more information, visit the IRCC website and contact an International Student Advisor for guidance based on your individual circumstances. _{Updated October 16, 2024}

I submitted my study permit application before January 22, 2024, but I haven't received a decision yet. Do I need an attestation letter?

Based on the information provided on the IRCC website, applications submitted before 8:30 am (ET) on January 22, 2024, do not require an attestation letter. _{Updated October 16, 2024}

I have been admitted to the DCS at UVic as a post-secondary certificate or diploma program student for an upcoming term, but I haven't applied for my study permit yet. How can I get an attestation letter from the province for my study permit application?

UVic is able to distribute provincial attestation letters (PALs) to incoming international students admitted to post-secondary certificate and diploma program students with the Division of Continuing Studies who have received a letter of offer and have paid their acceptance deposit. If you have not yet paid your acceptance deposit, please do so as soon as possible to ensure you can receive a PAL.

If you are already in Canada and/or are holding a valid study permit, you may not need a PAL. Please contact uvcsimmigration@uvic.ca for advice.

If you are a post-secondary certificate or diploma program student outside Canada, please do not apply for your study permit until you receive a PAL. If you apply without a PAL, IRCC will return your application unprocessed.

To request a PAL, or for questions about the PAL process:                                             

• Students admitted to non-credit programs offered by the Division of Continuing Studies contact:
• English Language Centre: elcreg@uvic.ca
• Business and Management Programs: BMT@uvic.ca 
• All other post-secondary certificate and diploma programs: uvcsreg@uvic.ca
• Students admitted to credit programs at UVic: contact admsadmin@uvic.ca

_{Updated October 16, 2024} 

I have been admitted to English as an Additional Language (EAL) program(s) at the English Language Centre (ELC) at UVic for studies more than 6 months in duration for an upcoming term, and I haven't yet applied for my study permit. Do I need an attestation letter from the province to apply for a study permit?

Yes. As per the IRCC website, most international students studying in Canada for more than 6 months in duration will require a study permit. The attestation letter will be required for the study permit application. 

If you are an ELC student and you will apply for a study permit from outside Canada, please do not apply for your study permit until you receive an attestation letter from the province. If you apply without this letter, IRCC will return your application unprocessed.

To request a PAL, or for questions about the PAL process:

• Students admitted to non-credit programs offered by the Division of Continuing Studies contact:
  • English Language Centre: elcreg@uvic.ca
  • Business and Management Programs: BMT@uvic.ca 
  • All other post-secondary certificate and diploma programs: uvcsreg@uvic.ca
• Students admitted to credit programs at UVic: contact admsadmin@uvic.ca

 _{Updated October 16, 2024}

I have been admitted to English as an Additional Language (EAL) program(s) at the English Language Centre (ELC) at UVic for studies less than 6 months in duration for an upcoming term. Do I need to apply for a study permit, and do I need an attestation letter from the province to apply for a study permit?

No. You can study in Canada for less than 6 months without a study permit if you have valid visitor status.

Visit the IRCC website to determine if you need a study permit.

Please note: If you register for a program of study for less than 6 months in duration and you are considering registering for additional programs of study inside Canada, we strongly recommend that you consider applying for a study permit before you travel to Canada. As noted on the IRCC website, having a study permit when you are inside Canada will allow you to extend your status as a student more easily if you decide to register for additional study programs. If you choose to apply for a study permit before you travel to Canada then, yes, you must receive an attestation letter for your study permit application. _{Updated October 16, 2024}

As of November 8, 2024, you must be enrolled at the designated learning institution (DLI) named on your study permit. If another Canadian institution is named on your study permit, you must apply and be approved for a new study permit before starting your studies with the DCS at UVic. As part of your application, you must include a letter explaining why you’re changing schools. For more information, see Changing your school as a post-secondary student on the IRCC website.

If you are starting your studies at UVic in January 2025 and hold a valid study permit that was issued based on your acceptance to another institution, you may begin studying at UVic while you are awaiting processing of your study permit extension application if you:

• have been accepted to UVic for the Spring 2025 term, and
• have applied for a study permit extension using your UVic letter of acceptance, and
• have a study permit that remains valid and does not have another institution's name printed on it, and
• meet all your existing study permit conditions

If you meet all of the requirements stated above, you may begin your studies at UVic after you have submitted your study permit extension application from inside Canada. Please make sure to submit your extension application as soon as possible.

If you have questions or would like to confirm whether you meet the eligibility criteria to start your studies in January, please contact uvcsimmigration@uvic.ca. 

 _{Updated December 13, 2024}

If you submitted a DLI change (either through your IRCC secure account or the IRCC web form) prior to November 8, 2024, to advise IRCC that you would be studying at UVic, you may begin your studies at UVic using your current valid study permit. _{Updated December 13, 2024}

If your extension application is still in progress, you can inform IRCC that you would like to change your DLI by submitting a new letter of acceptance and a letter explaining why you are changing schools using the IRCC web form. _{Updated December 3, 2024}

If you need to defer your program start date with the Division of Continuing Studies (DCS) at UVic:

• Certificate and Diploma in Business Administration Programs: contact bmt@uvic.ca. 
• All other DCS programs: contact uvcsreg@uvic.ca. 

If you have questions about your study permit or your status in Canada, contact uvcsimmigration@uvic.ca. _{Updated December 13, 2024}

IRCC's updated announcement says that starting May 15, 2024, international students attending a private college that has been licensed to deliver the curriculum of an associated public college will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP).

Will this policy update affect students in the DCS programs?

Based on current PGWP criteria, it is our understanding that the post-secondary certificate and diploma programs at the DCS currently meet the eligibility criteria for the PGWP. For current PGWP criteria, please see Work in Canada after you graduate. 

The DCS is part of the University of Victoria and falls under the same Designated Learning Institution (DLI) number. As noted on the Letter of Acceptance that is issued to all admitted students in DCS programs, UVic is a public institution.

_{Updated April 2, 2024}

I will be applying for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) soon.  Will I need to submit language test results with my application?

If you will submit a PGWP application on or after November 1, 2024, you will need to provide proof of language ability when you submit your application.  This new requirement will apply to all PGWP applications submitted as of November 1, regardless of when you started your studies.  Students who have completed a program at UVic, including non-credit Division of Continuing Studies certificate and diploma programs, will need to demonstrate a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all 4 language areas when applying for a PGWP. Your language test results must be less than two years old at the time you submit your PGWP application.

For detailed information on the new PGWP language requirements, including a list of accepted tests, visit Changes to PGWP eligibility criteria on the IRCC website.

_{Updated October 16, 2024}

IRCC's announcement on September 18, 2024, mentioned new post-graduation work permit (PGWP) eligibility requirements based on field of study.  How will this impact me?

The impacts of the September 18 announcement will depend on when you applied for your study permit, as well as your program and field of study.

If you applied for your study permit before November 1, 2024: Your PGWP eligibility will not be impacted, regardless of your program or field of study. Please note that you must still meet all other PGWP eligibility criteria (including the new language requirements, if you apply for a PGWP on or after November 1) to qualify.

If you apply for your study permit on or after November 1, 2024: Your PGWP eligibility will depend on your program and field of study.

• Students who graduate from a diploma or certificate program at UVic may qualify for a PGWP only if their program is linked to certain occupations in long-term shortage. A list of eligible fields of study for diploma and certificate programs is available on the IRCC website. Students in eligible fields of study must also meet all other PGWP eligibility criteria including the new language requirements.

_{Updated December 2, 2024}

I am a current DCS student at UVic and my spouse or common-law partner is in Canada with an open work permit based on my student status. Will my spouse/partner be able to extend their open work permit?

IRCC has confirmed that spouses and common-law partners of international students seeking to extend their existing open work permit may do so, if they continue to meet the eligibility criteria to extend a spousal open work permit, see Help your spouse or common-law partner work in Canada. _{Updated March 22, 2024}

I am a current DCS student at UVic and my spouse or common-law partner hasn’t come to Canada yet. Can they still apply for an open work permit?

Effective March 19, 2024, open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students in:

• master's or doctoral degree programs, or
• one of the following professional degree programs:
  • Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)
  • Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL)
  • Doctor of Medicine (MD)
  • Doctor of Optometry (OD)
  • Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN)
  • Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc)
  • Bachelor of Nursing (BN)
  • Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng., BE, BASc)

If your program at UVic is listed above, your spouse or common-law partner may still be eligible for an open work permit.

If your UVic program is not listed above but your spouse or common-law partner submitted an open work permit application to IRCC before March 19, 2024, they may be eligible for an open work permit based on the previous criteria.

For detailed information on spousal open work permit eligibility criteria based on application submission date, see Help your spouse or common-law partner work in Canada. _{Updated October 16, 2024}

I have been admitted as a DCS post-secondary certificate or diploma program student for an upcoming term and my spouse or common-law partner has been approved for an open work permit with my study permit approval, but we haven't travelled to Canada yet. Will they still be able to come to Canada with me?

If your spouse or common-law partner has already been approved for an open work permit, they should still be eligible to receive an open work permit upon entry to Canada, provided you and your spouse or common-law partner continue to meet the eligibility criteria that were in place on the date the open work permit application was submitted. For more information, see  Help your spouse or common-law partner work in Canada. _{Updated October 16, 2024}

I have been admitted as a DCS post-secondary certificate or diploma program student for an upcoming term and my spouse or common-law partner has applied for an open work permit together with my study permit application, but it hasn't been approved yet. Will their application be refused due to the change in spousal open work permit eligibility criteria?

IRCC has confirmed that spousal open work permit applications submitted before March 19, 2024 will be assessed against the previous eligibility criteria. If your spouse or common-law partner submitted an open work permit application before March 19 and meets all other criteria, they may still be eligible for an open work permit.

If your spouse or common-law partner submitted an open work permit application after March 19, you must be in an eligible degree program for their work permit application to be approved.

For full eligibility criteria based on application submission date, see Help your spouse or common-law partner work in Canada. _{Updated October 16, 2024}

I have been admitted as a DCS post-secondary certificate or diploma program student for an upcoming term.  Can my spouse still apply for a spousal open work permit?

Currently, open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students in:

• master's or doctoral degree programs, or
• one of the following professional degree programs:
  • Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)
  • Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL)
  • Doctor of Medicine (MD)
  • Doctor of Optometry (OD)
  • Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN)
  • Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc)
  • Bachelor of Nursing (BN)
  • Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng., BE, BASc)

If your program at UVic is listed above, your spouse or common-law partner may still be eligible for an open work permit.

For detailed information on spousal open work permit eligibility criteria based on application submission date, see Help your spouse or common-law partner work in Canada

_{Updated October 16, 2024}