Last Updated On 7 April 2024, 11:44 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

Today, Ontario announced in a news release that they are giving priority to public postsecondary education programs that will help graduates get into in-demand jobs.

This new measure is to meet the demands of the province’s labour market in reaction to the federal government’s cap on the number of applications for study permits from international students for the next two years.

96% of study permit applications in Ontario will go to publicly funded colleges and universities.

The other 4% will go to private universities, language schools, and other institutions in the province. Career colleges will not receive any applications.

Institutions will receive applications according to the following criteria:

prioritize programs in the high-demand fields: skilled trades, human resources in health, STEM, hospitality, and child care.
an institution cannot exceed the 2023 permission levels.
as a last safety measure, the proportion of foreign permits cannot go above 55% of the institution’s first-year domestic enrollment in 2023 (except in high-demand sectors).

French-language enrollment will also be prioritized as firms compete for French-speaking employees.

In order to help colleges and universities stand up and move to programming that is in line with the demands of the labour market and promotes Ontario’s economic growth, the government will work with them.

Ontario Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)

Most international students wishing to study in Ontario must submit a provincial letter of attestation with their study permit application.

This letter serves as proof that the federal government has accommodated the applicant within its maximum allotments.

Students who have accepted an offer of admission and plan to enroll in a postsecondary school should get in touch with their admissions office to get an attestation letter.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced changes to the International Student Program for 2024 and 2025 in January 2024.

These changes included capping the number of study permits granted to international students, with the exception of those enrolled in master’s and doctoral degree programs and those in kindergarten through grade 12.

Applications for 22 out of 23 universities will remain at the 2023 level. The only university to witness a decrease in 2023 applications is Algoma University.

Of the 24 colleges, 11 will continue to accept applications through 2023.

Conestoga College and other public-private college collaborations will experience the biggest reductions.

International students who start a program at a publicly subsidized college that is administered through a private partner will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work visa as of May 15, 2024, as part of the reforms announced by the federal government in January 2024.

New Measures To Protect International Postsecondary Students

To safeguard international postsecondary students and ensure they have a great and satisfying experience while studying in Ontario, the government is:

taking action to require all publicly funded schools and institutions to ensure that accommodation choices are accessible for incoming overseas students
investing more than $32 million in 2023–24 to support all postsecondary students’ mental health. This includes providing direct funding to postsecondary schools through various grants.
introducing the Strengthening Accountability and Student Supports Act of 2024, which, if passed, will help to improve the student experience by implementing additional measures to support mental health, safe and inclusive campuses, and increased fee transparency, benefiting all students, including international students.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.