OLLO – International Students – February 6, 2023

Key Messages

• International students make immense economic, cultural and social contributions to Canada, including supporting the vitality of Official Language Minority Communities across the country.
• The international student program has grown exponentially over the last five years. In 2022, IRCC processed over 739,000 new study permit applications. This was a record, well beyond the 555,000 new study permit applications processed in 2021.
• IRCC is committed to a fair and non-discriminatory immigration system and is working to address the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM)’s recommendations on issues such as processing times and refusal rates for certain populations, particularly those applying from Francophone Africa.
• On November 15, 2022, a new temporary measure came into effect, temporarily lifting the 20-hour limit on the number of hours international students can work off-campus.

Supplementary Messages

Study Permit Processing Times

• In 2022, IRCC processed over 739,000 new study permit applications. This was a record, well beyond the 555,000 new study permit applications processed in the 2021 calendar year.
• IRCC has significantly reduced inventories as well as processing times for study permit applications. We expect to be able to reach the 60-day for 80% of study permit applications service standard this winter. 

Student Direct Stream

• The Student Direct Stream (SDS) program offers expedited study permit processing to applicants from select countries. In 2022, IRCC received 252,239 SDS applications, a 49% increase compared to the 168,730 applications received in 2021. Despite the increase in demand, IRCC reduced processing times from 78 days in December 2021 to 42 days in December 2022. IRCC issued 54% more study permits under SDS in 2022 compared to 2021.

Anti-Racism Priorities

• IRCC is committed to a fair and non-discriminatory immigration system and is working to address the CIMM recommendations.
• Initiatives to fight unconscious biases and racism have already been taken:
  • Unconscious bias training for decision-makers
  • Provision of Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Anti-Bias workshops
  • Launching target guidelines for disaggregated data standards for diverse populations in March 2023;
  • Pursuing further research on racial discrimination of Black immigrants as it relates to their immigration journey;
  • Working on a Gender-based Plus analysis of Chinook and of the International Student Program; and
  • Exploring the feasibility of establishing an ombudsperson office.

Temporary Lift Of Restrictions On Off-Campus Work Hours

• From November 15, 2022 until December 31, 2023, international students who are in Canada and who have off-campus work authorization will be permitted to work an unlimited number of hours, if they submitted a study permit application by October 7, 2022.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and Distance Learning

• During the pandemic, several measures were put in place to facilitate distance learning without impacting PGWP eligibility. Currently and until August 31, 2023, time spent studying outside Canada will count toward the length of a PGWP as long as at least 50% of the program of study was completed from within Canada.

Supporting Facts And Figures

• From January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, the Department received 904,256 study permit applications ^{Footnote *} (25% increase from 2021), finalized 922,002 ^{Footnote *} study permits (29% increase from 2021), and issued 628,651 study permits^{Footnote *} (32% increase from 2021).