Ontario revealed its allocation of international study permits recently. Reportedly, 96 percent of international study permits will cater to Ontario’s public colleges and universities. On the other hand, the remaining percentage will be divided among language, private, and other institutions in the province.
Ontario revealed its allocation of international study permits
Ontario’s government declared that the study permit distribution would emphasize post-secondary educational programs at public institutions. This will help graduates access in-demand jobs that encourage the labor market requirements in Ontario.
In addition, this type of allocation implies that career colleges will no longer receive any study permit applications. Career colleges typically imply private institutions.
According to a recent update, the provincial government of Ontario has opted for the distribution of study permits for international students by emphasizing programs in multiple areas with increased demand. These high-demand areas include the following:
- Health human resources;
- Hospitality;
- Skilled Trades;
- STEM occupations; and
- Childcare;
Ontario also made it evident that it will emphasize French-language enrollment to ensure employers fight for employees with French language proficiency.
The recent press release stated the following details about the study permit distribution in Ontario in 2024:
- The study permit allocation for any specific institution can’t surpass the number of permits issued last year. Furthermore, the international permit ratio can’t be above 55 percent of the first-year enrollment of the institute in 2023.
- All Ontario public universities, except Algoma University, will observe application stability at the same level as in 2023. However, the Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie will witness a decline compared to the level of 2023.
- 11 public colleges in Ontario out of the total 24 colleges will also continue with the same level as in 2023. Colleges with public-private partnerships will observe the most significant decrease in the number of applications. This especially holds true for Conestoga College.
The reason behind Ontario’s allocation of international study permits
This announcement concerning the allocation is a response to IRCC’s decision to cap the study permits for the next two years. However, the department’s initiative primarily targets international students at the undergraduate level. In particular, IRCC’s cap doesn’t include international students at the primary and secondary levels. Also, it excludes students pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees.
Comparing Ontario’s distribution with other provinces
Ontario’s study permit allocation ratio demonstrates a significant prejudice favorable for public institutions compared to some other provinces. For instance, British Columbia recently classified the distribution nearly between public post-secondary and private institutions. This indicates 53 and 47 percent, respectively. The Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills in British Columbia stated that the province will get a distribution of 83,000 undergraduate study permit applications in 2024.
Ontario is yet to announce the overall number of study permit applications that it has received as allocation through the federal government in 2024. IRCC’s recent guidelines imply that the province will attain a significant share of study permits of any Canadian province or territory, based on the size of the population.
Acquiring Ontario’s Provincial Attestation Letter
Ontario has not officially declared the issuance of PALs; however, it might do so as soon as possible. The federal government fixed a deadline of March 31 for all Canadian provinces or territories to establish a solid PAL system for international students.
Currently, international students looking forward to studying in Ontario must connect with their desired schools. This way, they can save the document information. The Ontario College Application Service confirms that international students will not need to apply directly for the Provincial Attestation Letters.
Instead, the student’s selected DLI will submit an application to the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities on their behalf. International students will obtain a copy of the letter upon the application’s approval and when the PAL is prepared.
If you have questions related to the Canadian study permit process, you can access all relevant details through Make Home Canada’s immigration consultants. Write to us at [email protected]
