Program delivery update: Study permits for Saudi Arabian nationals – new instructions

On August 5, 2018 the Government of Saudi Arabia announced it was cancelling the funding of its scholarship programs in Canada, effective August 31, 2018, and that all Saudi students in Canada were to leave the country by the end of the summer season (September 22, 2018). Students from Saudi Arabia were asked to have their scholarships transferred to other countries to continue their studies.

Since that original announcement, the Saudi Ministry of Education has confirmed that scholarships remain in place for all medical trainees. These trainees include physicians, dentists and nurses (including dependents).

The Saudi Ministry of Education also made the decision to allow Saudi scholarship students (including dependents), currently on authorized leave from their Canadian studies, to rejoin their academic programs, beginning either in the fall or winter term. The following students (who may be bringing dependents with them) are now eligible for, and will receive, new financial scholarships issued by the Saudi Arabia Cultural Bureau:

• medical trainees, which includes physicians, dentists and nurses
• graduate (master’s and Ph.D.) students in all academic disciplines
• undergraduate scholarship students in the final year of their bachelor programs

In light of this information, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will only consider financial sponsorship certificates from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Cultural Bureau as valid proof of funds for applications for study permits and study permit extensions from students (including dependents) who are any of the following:

• medical trainees, which includes physicians, dentists and nurses
• graduate (master’s and Ph.D.) students in all academic disciplines
• undergraduate scholarship students in the final year of their bachelor programs

The new instructions are to be followed when processing applications for study permits and study permit extensions for applicants who do not fall into those 3 categories.

New instructions

• Study permit applications for Saudi Arabian nationals