Study Permit Verification and Agri‑Food Immigration Changes

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice announces a few government actions from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration. It updates the rules for the agri-food immigration class, and sets new processing rules for study permit applications that took effect on January 30, 2024. It also lists some statutory repeals and a set of open federal appointment opportunities.

What it does#

• Agri-food immigration class

  • Updates the Ministerial Instructions Amending the Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Agri-food Immigration Class, 2023 to clarify who counts as a member of that class.
  • Adds a rule that people who are in Canada can be treated as meeting certain requirements for the class.
  • Says these amendments apply to applications that are still pending on the day they take effect. They take effect on the day they are published in the Canada Gazette, Part I (issue dated February 10, 2024).

• Study permit processing

  • Introduces the Ministerial Instructions with respect to the processing of study permit applications (came into force January 30, 2024).
  • Requires the Designated Learning Institution named on a post‑secondary study permit application to confirm, within 10 calendar days, whether the applicant was accepted to the program before immigration officers proceed with the application.
  • Requires that confirmations for electronic applications be made through the department’s Letter of Acceptance Verification Tool.
  • Allows the Minister to grant a single extension of up to 30 days to that period for the institution in cases such as power outages, natural disasters, public health emergencies, or labour disputes.
  • Says application fees will be refunded if an application is returned unprocessed because the institution did not provide confirmation.

• Other items

  • Notes a list of repeals carried out under the Statutes Repeal Act, with certain provisions repealed on December 31, 2023.
  • Publishes a long list of current Governor in Council appointment opportunities and invites applications.

Who's affected#

• People applying for permanent residence under the agri-food stream.
  • Those with applications already pending when the agri-food changes take effect may be affected.
• International students and prospective international students applying for or renewing post‑secondary study permits.
• Designated Learning Institutions, because they must respond (usually through the electronic tool) to confirm acceptances.
• Immigration officers, who must return applications that lack the required confirmation.
• Canadians interested in federal appointments listed in the Gazette.

Why it matters#

• For international students: an application can be returned (and the fee refunded) if the school does not confirm acceptance through the required system in time. That can delay or stop a study permit process.
• For schools: institutions will need to use the electronic verification tool and meet response timelines or ask for a one‑time extension under specific emergency conditions.
• For agri-food workers: the amendments clarify who qualifies for that immigration pathway and make it clearer how in‑Canada applicants may meet some requirements. That could affect eligibility or processing for people already working in Canada.
• For the public: the notice also updates which older legal provisions have been repealed and lists many federal job and board openings that Canadians can apply for.