Ãâ·Ñ¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ÔÚÏß¿´Æ¬

Canada new measures to make it easier for Ukrainians who applied under the and their family members to apply to extend their stay in Canada while waiting for a decision on their permanent residence application.

who applied under the family reunification pathway to PR will have until March 31, 2027, to apply from within Canada for:

• a new open work permit
• an extension of an existing work permit
• a new study permit
• an extension or restoration of their temporary resident status

Learn more about . 

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. .

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 , 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. . 

Starting September 1, 2025, a single applicant will need to show they have a minimum of $22,895 CAD funds available (not including tuition) to cover living expenses and travel costs while they are studying in Canada. If you have dependents, you will need to prove 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. . 

On July 4, 2025, IRCC updated the list of eligible fields of study to reflect the and the following changes were made:

• 119 new fields of study in key sectors like health care and social services, education and trades were added.
• 178 fields of study no longer linked to occupations in long-term labour shortages were removed.

You can check if your program's 6-digit CIP code is on the list of eligible CIP codes . 

Canada 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. . 

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:

• (valid for up to 3 years)

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. 

Background

In January 2024, a number of immigration changes designed to protect international students and promote sustainable population growth in Canada. 

As part of these announcements, IRCC introduced the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) as a required document for most study permit applications made from outside of Canada. When announced, applicants applying to study in a master's or doctoral degree were exempt from this requirement.  

Effective January 22, 2025, most study permit applicants (from inside and outside Canada) will require a PAL to be included in their application. .

IRCC has now expanded the PAL requirement to those: 

• Applying to study in a graduate level program (master's or doctoral degree)
• Changing Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) or level of study inside Canada
  • Level of study categories include: 1) Primary and secondary education  2) Post-secondary education (including undergraduate programs) and 3) Graduate education or above

Important: If you are changing programs at uLethbridge and think you may need a PAL, please book an appointment to speak with an International Student Advisor.  

The following student groups do not require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL): 

• Those applying to study at a primary or secondary school (from kindergarten up to grade 12)
• Exchange students applying to study under an exchange agreement between your home institution and a designated learning institution
• Current study permit holders applying for a study permit extension to continue their studies at the same DLI and at the same level of study

If you require a PAL to apply for your study permit, once you accept your Offer of Admission and pay your tuition deposit, the Admissions office will request a PAL to the Government of Alberta on your behalf. 

Once Admissions receives your PAL, they will issue your Letter of Acceptance and PAL through MyCreds and sent to your @uleth.ca email address. This process takes 5-7 business days. We recommend that you delay your study permit application until you receive your PAL, unless you are exempt from the PAL requirement.

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. .

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

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
• 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 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). . 

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

Effective November 15, 2024, IRCC updated the process for international students changing their educational institution (DLI). . 

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 for instructions specific to your situation.  

If you are transferring to the Ãâ·Ñ¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ÔÚÏß¿´Æ¬ 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. . 

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

IRCC has 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. .

Background

On January 22, 2024, 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. .

• 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 .  

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 Ãâ·Ñ¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ÔÚÏß¿´Æ¬ must meet a field of study requirement to be eligible for the PGWP after program completion. . 

• 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 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 the extension of the Iranian special measures in response to the ongoing situation in Iran. The measures have been extended until February 28, 2025. . 

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. 

On December 7, 2023, IRCC an increase to the the minimum financial requirement for study permit applicants so that international students are more financially prepared for life in Canada.  

Starting January 1, 2024, a single applicant will need to show they have a minimum of $20,635 CAD funds available (not including tuition) to cover living expenses and travel costs while they are studying in Canada. .