FAQs related to IRCC reforms

Students who applied for a study permit on or after January 22, 2024, are subject to the requirement for a provincial attestation letter (PAL). Please find out more on the attestation process here.

Students are advised to monitor the IRCC website and consult the process there for details noting that changes to the process are expected to be clarified by November 2024.

Provincial attestation letters (PALs) are issued from the province or territory the student has applied to study in. Applications without the attestation letter will be returned to the applicant by IRCC. For Ontario students, PALs are provided through your account in the OCAS-IAS portal. Continue to monitor your OCAS-IAS portal for further information.

Students enrolled and studying at SLC’s Kingston, Brockville, or Cornwall campuses prior to November 1, 2024, and any student who applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024 is eligible for a post-graduate work permit once they graduate if they meet current IRCC requirements. 

Students applying for a study permit after November 1, 2024 for a program at SLC’s Kingston, Brockville, or Cornwall campus will only be eligible for a PGWP if their program of study is on a list of approved programs provided by the Canadian government to address labour market shortages. Note that SLC has not been notified which programs meet these criteria at this time.  

Field of Study Requirements

IRCC has confirmed that all college graduate PGWP applicants who apply on or after November 1, 2024 will be required to demonstrate a minimum language proficiency of English CLB 5 or French NCLC 5. For more information, please visit Work in Canada after you graduate: Who can apply - Canada.ca. 

Here is the list of approved English tests you will need to pass to be eligible for a PGWP: 

• CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)- students will need to take the CELPIP General Test
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)- students will need to take the IELTS General Training option
• PTE (Pearson Test of English)- students will need to take the PTE Core option 

Tests results must be less than two years old at the time when you submit your application. 

Please see the federal government news release for details.

New students who have applied for a study permit after November 1, 2024, at one of St. Lawrence College's Kingston, Cornwall, and Brockville campuses are eligible for a PGWP if they graduate from a field of study linked to occupations in long-term shortages. Note that SLC has not been notified which programs meet these criteria at this time.  

Field of Study Requirements

IRCC has confirmed that all college graduate PGWP applicants who apply on or after November 1, 2024 will be required to demonstrate a minimum language proficiency of English CLB 5 or French NCLC 5. For more information, please visit Work in Canada after you graduate: Who can apply - Canada.ca. 

Here is the list of approved English tests you will need to pass to be eligible for a PGWP: 

• CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)- students will need to take the CELPIP General Test
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)- students will need to take the IELTS General Training option
• PTE (Pearson Test of English)- students will need to take the PTE Core option 

Tests results must be less than two years old at the time when you submit your application. 

IF YOUR SPOUSE/PARTNER IS APPLYING FOR AN OPEN WORK PERMIT ON OR AFTER MARCH 19, 2024:

Starting March 19, 2024, spouses or common-law partners of SLC students are NOT eligible for an open work permit.

These are only available if you have a valid study permit and you are studying in either a master’s or doctoral degree program in a university or polytechnic institution.  SLC does not offer these programs, therefore, our students' spouses and partners are not eligible to apply for an open work permit if they apply on or after March 19, 2024.

IF YOUR SPOUSE/PARTNER APPLIED FOR AN OPEN WORK PERMIT BEFORE MARCH 19, 2024:

Your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit if you meet the following three requirements:

• You have a valid study permit.
• You’re eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP).
• You’re a full-time student at a public post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec. (SLC students fall under this category)

OPEN WORK PERMITS FOR SPOUSES POST-GRADUATION: 

Your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible to extend their existing open work permit under this stream if you meet three requirements: 

• You have a valid study permit. 
• You’re eligible for a PGWP. 
• You’re a full-time student at a public post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or a CEGEP in Quebec 

The IRCC has announced it will be limiting work permit eligibility later this year to spouses of foreign workers in management or professional occupations or in sectors with labour shortages—under Canada’s work permit programs (TFWP and IMP) 

If your spouse is not eligible for an open work permit, they may be able to get another type of work permit.  Find out about other work permit options. 

Please visit  Help your spouse or common-law partner work in Canada - Canada.ca for further information. 

St Lawrence College (SLC), including Kingston, Cornwall, and Brockville campuses, is a public model institution. Toronto-based Alpha College is a public-private institution, established through the Ontario provincial public-private partnership model. Students across all campuses receive a St. Lawrence College credential. 

All SLC students contribute much-needed talent and expertise to Ontario labour markets. Whether during their programs, on placement, or afterwards as part of a work permit, college students help fill positions in key industries like healthcare, hospitality and tourism, emerging technologies and green industries, manufacturing, construction, trades, and more. Many international students come to SLC with prior education seeking to be further trained and they contribute as top talent to key sectors of the local and provincial workforce. 

For students on the Kingston, Brockville, or Cornwall campus, Student Success is available to help students with concerns related to academic programs, and the Student Wellness and Accessibility department has extensive resources and services, from self-serve to one-on-one counselling. The International Student Advisory team is being equipped with updates, to ensure they are best able to support our international students.

For students in programs offered at the Alpha campus, the Front desk is available to help students with concerns related to academic programs and student services. Please connect with them via email frontdesk@slc-alpha.ca