Canada Tightens Study Permit Rules and Financial Scrutiny for International Students

Canada’s immigration authority, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has issued updated guidance clarifying study‑permit conditions. A permit now expires on the earlier of the printed expiry date or 90 days after a student’s program is officially completed, as confirmed by the school. Transfers to a new Designated Learning Institution generally require a new permit, while changing programs within the same school usually does not. Authorized leave up to 150 days is permitted, but work is prohibited during such leave or while not actively studying. The temporary policy that allowed certain foreign workers to study without a separate permit ends on 27 June 2026, and non‑credit programs are largely ineligible for a Post‑Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), except for specific flight‑school programs.

At the same time, IRCC is increasing scrutiny of financial documentation for study‑permit applicants. Proof‑of‑funds thresholds remain unchanged, but applicants must present stable, clearly documented finances; atypical cash deposits raise concerns. While overall approval rates have risen to 35 %, the volume of applications falls, and approval likelihood varies by origin country, with higher rates for South Korea and France and lower rates for many African and Southeast Asian nations.