Canada Scraps Dual Permit Rule for International Students

International students in Canada no longer require a separate work permit to participate in mandatory internships or co-op placements. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced the reform on 1 April 2026 to eliminate the administrative burden of holding two distinct documents for a single educational programme. Under the new rules, a standard study permit grants sufficient authorisation for work placements, provided the employment does not exceed half of the total course. This shift simplifies the process for thousands of foreign nationals who previously navigated extra paperwork to satisfy degree requirements.

The government intends this measure to cut operational inefficiency within the immigration department. By merging the permits, officials can process applications more swiftly while offering students greater stability. Further proposals are under consideration to allow graduates and students to continue working while awaiting decisions on permit renewals. Such a change would remove the “implied status” anxiety that currently plagues many international residents. Consultations with provincial stakeholders and educational institutions are expected to conclude by late spring 2026.

Despite this procedural easing, Canada is simultaneously tightening its overall intake of foreign nationals. The federal government aims to shrink the temporary resident population from 7.4 per cent of the total population to less than five per cent by 2027. New targets suggest a sharp decline in available slots, with student permit volumes expected to drop by nearly 50 per cent this year. While the system is becoming more efficient for those who secure a place, the barrier to entry has moved significantly higher.

Economic data indicate that the crackdown is already taking effect. New arrivals of international students and foreign workers fell by 28 per cent in January 2026 compared to the previous year. This contraction aligns with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which seeks to align migration with the country’s housing and infrastructure capacity. The IRCC is prioritising applicants for Master’s and PhD programmes, who are now exempt from certain attestation requirements.

For Nigerian students, the new rules offer a mixed bag of streamlined bureaucracy and stiffer competition. The removal of the co-op work permit requirement saves time and application fees for those entering technical or business fields. However, the overall reduction in temporary resident targets means that only the most qualified candidates will likely succeed. The government remains resolute in its plan to stabilise the national population through 2028.