Immigration Updates & Announcements

As of September 4, 2026, a temporary public policy allows eligible foreign workers to study without a study permit for 6 months or less. 

To be eligible:

• you must hold a valid work permit
• your study program must be 6 months or less in length

If your work permit is valid, you’re authorized to study for 6 months or less or until your work permit expires, whichever comes first. You can study full-time or part-time under this temporary public policy. Learn more. 

Starting September 1, 2026, a single applicant will need to show they have a minimum of $23,448 CAD funds available (not including tuition and transportation costs) for living expenses/to support themselves for the first year of their studies in Canada. If you have dependents, you will need to prove more. Learn more. 

As of April 1, 2026, post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit to participate in student work placements required by their program, such as co-op placements, internships and work-integrated learning opportunities. Learn more.

Although the Co-op Work Permit itself is no longer a requirement, to be eligible to participate in a student work placement, you must meet all of the following conditions: 

• You’re a full-time student at uLethbridge in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program.
• You have a valid study permit, or you applied to extend your study permit before it expired.
• You have conditions printed on your initial study permit that say you’re allowed to work on campus.
• The work placement will be 50% or less of the total length of your study program
• You have a Co-op Letter from uLethbridge that confirms the work placement is a requirement to complete your program
  • Note: Depending on the nature of your work placement, this letter will come from either the Career Bridge Co-op Office or your Faculty Advising Office

If you have any questions or concerns about the Student Work Placements, please book an appointment with an International Student Advisor.  

Effective January 1, 2026, master’s and doctoral level students enrolled at a public designated learning institution (DLI) will not need to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) with their study permit application. Learn more.

The following groups are exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement in 2026: 

• master’s and doctoral degree students enrolled at public DLIs
• primary and secondary (kindergarten to grade 12) students
• certain Government of Canada priority groups and vulnerable cohorts
• existing study permit holders applying for an extension at the same DLI and at the same level of study.

If you have any questions or concerns about the PAL requirement, please book an appointment with an International Student Advisor.  

On November 6, 2025, IRCC launched a Graduate Student portal, where international graduate students can find information about how to apply for a study permit, life in Canada, and get important updates.  

• Additionally, on November 6, 2025, IRCC announced that doctoral (PhD) students, and their accompanying family members may be eligible for faster processing of their applications. Learn more. 

Background

IRCC announced that as of November 1, 2024, students who apply for a study permit for a non-degree program (programs other than bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees) must complete a program in an eligible field of study linked to jobs in long-term shortages, such as those being prioritized under Express Entry. meet a field of study requirement to be eligible for the PGWP after program completion. Learn more. 

Depending on your study program, you may need to meet a field of study requirement to be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). 

IRCC states that you don’t need to meet the field of study requirement if one of the following applies to you:

• You submitted your PGWP application before November 1, 2024, regardless of level of study.
• You graduated from a PGWP-eligible flight school.
• You graduated with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctoral degree.
• You applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024.

If you don’t meet one of the exceptions above, use this table to check if your program is eligible for a PGWP.

Canada announced the extension of the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) temporary measures in response to the continued invasion of Ukraine. These measures have now been extended until March 31, 2026. Learn more. 

Under these extended measures, Ukrainians and their family members who arrived in Canada under the CUAET on or before March 31, 2024, will now have until March 31, 2026, to apply:

• For a new open work permit (valid for up to 3 years)
• For an extension of their current open work permit
• For a new study permit

Note: These applications are subject to standard application fees. 

If you are eligible to apply under these measures, please contact the International Student Advisors for assistance. 

Effective January 21, 2025, only spouses/partners of certain international students and foreign workers will be eligible to apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP). Dependent children of foreign students and/or workers will no longer be eligible to apply for an Open Work Permit. Learn more.

Family OWPs will be limited to spouses of international students who are enrolled in:

• Master’s programs that are 16 months or longer
• Doctoral programs, or
• Select professional and eligible programs

Learn more about the updated eligibility for Spouses/partners of international students. 

Family OWPs will also be limited to spouses of workers who are employed in a high-skilled occupation, including: 

• All TEER 0 or 1 occupations, or
• Select TEER 2 or 3 occupations in sectors with labour shortages or linked to government priorities
• In addition, the foreign worker must also have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit at the time when their spouse applies for the OWP. Dependent children of foreign workers will no longer be eligible.

Learn more about the updated eligibility for Spouses/partners of foreign workers. 

Effective December 23, 2024, work and study permits will no longer be provided to "flagpolers" at a port of entry (POE). Learn more. 

Effective November 8, 2024, IRCC increased the number of hours eligible study permit holders can work, from 20 to 24 hours/week during regular academic terms. Learn more. 

As of November 8, 2024, study permit holders must be enrolled in the DLI named on their study permit. If you are changing DLIs, review the IRCC website for instructions specific to your situation.  

If you are transferring to the University of Lethbridge from another DLI in Canada, please contact the International Student Advisors for assistance. 

Effective November 8, 2024, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and Nigeria Student Express (NSE) are closed to new applications. SDS or NSE applications received before 2:00pm EST on November 8, 2024 will still be processed. Learn more. 

SDS or NSE study permit applications submitted on or after 2:00pm EST on November 8, 2024 will be processed under the regular study permit stream.

IRCC has extended a temporary public policy until October 5, 2029, that exempts certain low-risk, in-Canada foreign nationals from needing an additional immigration medical examination (IME) as part of their new application.

You may be exempt from completing another IME if you meet all of these conditions:

• you applied or are applying for either permanent residence or temporary residence
• you already live in Canada
• you completed your previous IME in the last 5 years
• your previous IME indicated a low risk or no risk to public health or public safety

If you completed an IME within 5 years of submitting your new application, include the IME number/e-Medical print out from your previous IME in your new application. Learn more.

Background

On January 22, 2024, IRCC announced a number of immigration changes designed to protect international students and promote sustainable population growth in Canada. As part of these efforts, Canada introduced the Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) for study permit applicants and set an intake cap on international student permit applications for a period of two years. 

As part of these announcements, starting February 14, 2024, graduates of master’s degree programs that are 8 months or longer (not including certificate or diploma programs), will be eligible to apply for a 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit.

As of November 1, 2024, all Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) applicants must include proof of English or French language proficiency in their application. Learn more.

• For university students, a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in English, or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) 7 in French is required.
• Language test results must be less than 2 years old at the time of the PGWP application. You can use your test results to find your CLB/NCLC language level.  

Additionally, IRCC announced that as of November 1, 2024, students who apply for a study permit for a certificate or diploma program (including graduate certificates and diplomas) at a University must meet a field of study requirement to be eligible for the PGWP after program completion. Learn more. 

• For university graduates with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctoral degree, there are no field of study requirements to apply for the PGWP.  
• For all other university programs, you must have graduated in an eligible field of study to apply for the PGWP. 

Important: If you need help understanding these changes, please book an appointment to speak with an International Student Advisor.  

On February 29, 2024, Canada announced the extension of the Iranian special measures in response to the ongoing situation in Iran. The measures have been extended until February 28, 2025. Learn more. 

Under these extended special measures, Iranian nationals in Canada with valid temporary resident status don't have to pay application or biometric fees when they apply:

• To extend their current status
• To change their temporary resident status (for example, from a visitor to a student)  
• For an additional open work permit or study permit

If you are eligible to apply under these measures, please contact the International Student Advisors for assistance.