On December 10, the IRCC communicated to Canadian educational institutions that students planning to transfer to a new designated learning institution (DLI) in January or May 2025 “may begin attending their intended DLI while their study permit application is processed.”

This temporary exemption responds to concerns regarding the timing issues arising from the IRCC's changes to the international student program announced on November 8, 2024. These changes require students transferring between institutions to apply for a new study permit extension and to wait for approval before commencing studies at the new DLI.

Larissa Bezo, president of CBIE, expressed her concerns, stating that “the immediate implementation of the regulatory changes has created significant turmoil for our member institutions and jeopardized the enrollment of many transfer students for January 2025.” In light of these challenges, CBIE and other stakeholders advocated for a temporary exemption, which now allows students to start their studies before receiving approval for their new study permits.

Bezo conveyed her satisfaction with the IRCC's response, noting a collective sense of relief among stakeholders, albeit alongside frustration regarding the ongoing policy shifts from the IRCC. “For the first time in a while, this feels like positive news, even if it stems from their previous policy decisions,” remarked Philip Reichert, director of global engagement at the University of British Columbia.

Bree Carney, an immigration consultant, highlighted that this development represents a significant victory for transfer students starting in January or May 2025. However, she also acknowledged the frustrations stemming from the timing of this grace period announcement. “Many institutions may have already established strategic and communication plans for affected students; now they will need to revisit those communications to inform students they can start attending,” Carney added.

To qualify for this grace period, students must be accepted into a DLI for either the winter (January) or spring (May) intakes in 2025. Additionally, they must possess a valid study permit that does not list a specific DLI and have applied for a new study permit while meeting all existing conditions of their current permit.

Saurabh Malhotra, CEO and founder of Student Direct, described this update as “a rare piece of good news,” emphasizing that without this grace period, many institutions could have faced substantial losses in student enrollment for the upcoming intakes.

Critics have pointed out the “erratic” nature of the IRCC’s policy changes since January 2024, noting that most institutions have struggled to meet their initial cap allocations. They urge the government to assess the implications of existing changes before implementing further disruptive policies, as indicated by this latest correction.

As of now, this update has not yet appeared on the IRCC’s official website; however, it is expected to be “posted shortly,” according to the email obtained by The PIE.