Federal regulationCanada Gazette, Part IComment Period Closed
Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Designated Learning Institutions)
Sponsoring body: Citizenship and Immigration, Dept. ofIntroduced June 29, 2024Last checked August 25, 2026
Read the official text on gazette.gc.caOfficial version — Canada Gazette, Part I
What this regulation does
These amendments strengthen oversight of Canada's International Student Program by requiring post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLIs) to verify letters of acceptance and submit enrollment compliance reports, allowing IRCC to suspend non-compliant schools from receiving new international students, requiring students to apply for a new study permit before switching schools, and increasing the off-campus work limit from 20 to 24 hours per week.
Plain-language summary by Legisail.
Business impact
EmploymentCompliance
Between 1,700 and 2,000 post-secondary DLIs across Canada — including private colleges, universities, and language schools — are directly affected. Schools must now confirm student acceptances within 10 days of an IRCC request and submit biannual enrollment reports within 60 days, or risk being placed on a public suspension list that blocks new international student applications for up to 12 months. The RIAS estimates total compliance costs to DLIs at roughly $12 million (present value over 10 years), with the average small private institution facing about $6,944 in total costs (roughly $989 per year) — mainly staff time for report preparation (estimated at 37.5 hours per report) and letter-of-acceptance verification through an online portal. Schools that ignore the rules face the most serious consequence: a complete freeze on new international student enrollments, which could devastate revenue for institutions heavily dependent on international tuition.
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Where this regulation is
Proposed
Comment period closed
Final publicationPending
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