Canada Implements New Measures to Strengthen Temporary Residency Program 2024
In a significant move to address growing economic and social needs, the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) has announced a series of reforms aimed at managing the number of temporary residents and enhancing the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.
- Reducing Temporary Residency Numbers
- To address the increasing number of temporary residents and align with economic realities, the Canadian government has set a goal to reduce the temporary residency rate from 6.5% to 5% of the total population by 2026.
- This adjustment is part of a broader strategy to manage the impact of temporary residency on Canada’s labor market and public services.
- Reforming the International Student Program
- One of the key areas of reform is the International Student Program. The government announced a 10% reduction in the target for issuing new study permits in 2025, from 485,000 in 2024 to 437,000.
- This reduction aims to stabilize the number of international students and ensure that Canada’s educational institutions can support them effectively.
- In 2026, this target will remain at the 2025 level to create consistency and help with better planning.
- Enhancing the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP)
- This fall, the PGWP program will be updated to better align with immigration goals and labor market needs.
- Starting November 1, 2024, all PGWP applicants must demonstrate a minimum language proficiency in either French or English. University graduates will need to achieve a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7, while college graduates will require CLB 5.
- Graduates from public colleges will continue to be eligible for a PGWP of up to three years if their field of study relates to long-term labor shortage occupations.
- Changes to Work Permit Conditions
- Work permit restrictions for spouses of master’s students: By the end of this year, the work permit conditions will only apply to the spouses of master’s students if the program lasts at least 16 months.
- Restricting work permits for spouses of foreign workers: Work permit conditions for spouses of foreign workers will also be limited, only applying to those working in management or professional occupations or in sectors with labor shortages under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program (IMP).
- Strengthening the Refugee System Canada is also addressing the rising number of asylum claims due to global displacement. The government is implementing several measures to enhance the integrity of the refugee system, including:
- Implementing partial visa requirements for Mexican citizens to better manage asylum claims.
- Improving the application processing system to ensure fairness while maintaining system integrity.
- Reviewing the visa issuance process to better detect fraud and reduce the number of unfounded applications.
If you’ve been following the immigration situation in Canada in 2024, you may have noticed rapid and significant changes. Now is not the time to risk your immigration plans. It’s crucial that you consult an immigration advisor, stay updated, and understand how these changes affect your pathway to residency.
