Your questions about Canada's new measures for prospective international students, answered
CBC
Canada's immigration minister on Thursday announced a slew of new requirements for foreign students wanting to come study in Canada.
Starting next year, Marc Miller said prospective international students will need to show they have access to $20,635 instead of the $10,000 requirement that has been in place for two decades, in addition to paying for travel and tuition.
The amount will be adjusted annually based on a Statistics Canada benchmark for living costs.
Miller also announced the federal Liberals are extending an exemption that allowed current international students without an employment visa to work for more than the 20 hours each week off campus.
He threatened to cap visas in provinces that don't help house students or who won't shut down educational institutions that he argues shouldn't be operating.
The announcements drew a lot of feedback and questions from the CBC News audience, especially on the new $20,000 requirement.
Here are answers to some of them.
The new minimum financial requirements only applies to new study permit applications received on or after Jan. 1, 2024.
The requirement is a one-time thing.
Under the current system, prospective students must show that they have $10,000 in addition to money for their first year's tuition and travel expenses. Under the new system, the $10,000 is increased to $20,635.
Currently, any international student without an employment visa can work for more than 20 hours a week off campus.
The waiver that temporarily allows students to work over the 20-hour cap was due to expire at the end of 2023, but Miller announced that it will be extended to April 30, 2024 for current students.
According to a news release: "International students already in Canada, as well as applicants who have already submitted an application for a study permit as of December 7, 2023, will be able to work off campus more than 20 hours per week until [April 30, 2024]."
Miller signalled that the Liberals are open to increasing the cap for when the waiver expires, but he said allowing 40 working hours per week would give people reason to come to Canada and not focus on their studies.
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