Canada has introduced new regulations to ensure the sustainability of the International Student Program by rooting out fraud and protecting the students from bad actors and financial vulnerability. 

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Marc Miller increased the working hours of eligible students to 24 hours a week.

“By fixing the off-campus work limit to 24 hours per week, we’re striking the right balance between providing work opportunities and helping students stay focused on their education," said Miller.

“We also expect institutions to support our efforts to preserve the integrity of the International Student Program. International students should have a positive, successful experience in Canada, and the important changes made today will help with that,” he added.

The steps are part of the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan which aims to decrease Canada’s temporary resident population over the next few years.

Designated learning institutions (DLIs) play an important role in protecting the student program against misuse.

Since 2015, IRCC has been working with DLIs to strengthen student compliance reporting. There will now be consequences for DLIs that fail to submit compliance reports or verify acceptance letters.

With this change, a DLI could be suspended from welcoming new international students for up to a year for failing to provide the required information.

These improvements will provide greater oversight while supporting international students and safeguarding their academic experiences in Canada, according to IRCC.

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