Information for current international students regarding recent study permit caps

No. These changes have no impact on current Waterloo students. The cap does not impact your current study permit, or future study permit extensions. 

The cap will be applied to new undergraduate students applying for their initial study permit for the upcoming Fall 2024 term. The cap does not apply to Masters or PhD students.  

International students whose applications were received by IRCC before 8:30 AM (EST) on January 22, 2024, as well as those who have already been approved for a study permit and intend to travel to Canada for an upcoming program, do not need to take further action as a result of the cap. 

No. Current students do not need an attestation letter when applying to extend your study permit. 

Yes. All current students (undergraduate and graduate level) who complete their program at Waterloo are still eligible to apply for a PGWP. 

Yes, you are eligible to receive a post-graduation work permit after completing your education at Waterloo if you meet the eligibility criteria. 

Starting on February 15, 2024, 3-year post-graduation work permits will be available to those who are graduating from a Masters degree program that is less than 2 years and who meet all other PGWP eligibility criteria. 

Effective March 19, 2024, the eligibility criteria has changed for spousal/common-law partner open work permits.

Starting March 19, 2024, the spouse/common-law partner of an international student may be eligible for an open work permit if the international student has a valid study permit and is studying in either:

• A Masters or PhD degree program, or
• One of the specified professional degree programs listed by IRCC

If your spouse/common-law partner either applied for an open work permit before March 19, 2024, or is applying to extend their existing open work permit under this stream, then you must meet 3 requirements:

• You have a valid study permit, and
• You’re eligible for a PGWP, and
• You’re a full-time student at Waterloo

Two term exchange is not an option for 2024-2025.  

The Government of Canada recently imposed a significant limit on the number of available international study permits for incoming students.  As a result, Waterloo has made the difficult decision to only accept exchange nominations for one term exchange students for the 2024-2025 academic year.

For more detailed information about coming to Waterloo on exchange, please refer to the Exchange and Study Abroad webpage.