Start Up Program

Immigration of Canada has increased cost-of-living requirement for study permit applicants.

• Starting on January 1st, the cost-of-living requirement for a single study permit applicant will be CAD $20,635.
• The new cost of living more than double the current requirement is CAD $ 10000.
• This cost-of-living requirement is after paying first year of tuition fee and travel costs.
• This will be applicable to all students whose study permit received after and or on January 1 st , 2024.
• This cost-of-living requirement will be adjusted each year.
• Immigration notes that the new financial guidelines will be applied to the Student Direct Stream (SDS).
• The SDS is a study permit stream for applications from residents of 14 countries that offers faster processing.
• IRCC is going to launch targeted pilots to help underrepresented cohorts of international students pursue their studies in Canada.
• IRCC also extending waiver on the 20 hours of work per week cap for students until April 30, 2024 for students who are currently in Canada and who has applied and submitted study permit application before December 7 th , 2023.
• Immigration also continue their PGWP public policy until September 1 st , 2024, for allowing international students to count terms spent studying online towards their PGWP for less than half of the students’ total time in the program.
• There will be no extension of PGWPs public policy the way it was done previously for 18 months PGWP extension. This policy is ending on 31 st December 2023.