On April 7, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced proposed amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to reduce administrative hurdles for international students and apprentices.

Key changes include removing the co-op work permit requirement for students and eliminating study permit mandates for foreign apprentices under specific conditions.

Furthermore, the proposal allows international graduates and students to continue working while awaiting decisions on their permit extensions.

These updates are designed to alleviate operational inefficiencies, standardize work authorizations during academic breaks, and support Canadian academic institutions in attracting top global talent by minimizing participation barriers.

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