Canada proposes new regulations for DLIs

The Canadian government proposed amendments to Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) regulations to prevent abuse of the study permit cap policy, which allocates international student spots per province. Currently, students are not required to inform Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) of DLI changes, and DLIs are not mandated to report, which could lead to compliance issues like fraudulent acceptance letters. The proposed changes would require students to notify the IRCC of institution changes and request a new study permit through a secure portal. These amendments aim to ensure compliance and allow the IRCC to suspend non-compliant DLIs. While stakeholders support addressing compliance and verification, they express concerns about the administrative burden and potential negative impacts on students and smaller institutions. Additionally, Quebec, which does not participate in IRCC's compliance reporting, may face significant adjustments. The amendments also allow international students to work an additional four hours off-campus, increasing the limit to 24 hours per week, a policy welcomed by students to help with the rising cost of living.