North America’s oldest brewing school is heading to Canada. The Siebel Institute of Technology, founded in 1868 and long based in Chicago, announced on November 28 that it will relocate its classroom operations to Montréal in January 2026. Management cited recent U.S. regulatory changes that make it “increasingly difficult” for international students to attend in-person courses, whereas Canada’s student-visa environment remains comparatively accessible.
Québec’s fast-growing craft-beer sector cheered the move, predicting an influx of specialized training and research partnerships. Industry advocates note that Montréal already hosts a dense cluster of micro-breweries and food-science programs; the arrival of Siebel adds brand cachet and could attract students from Europe, Latin America and Asia who might otherwise bypass Canada.
![Chicago’s Siebel Institute moves North: 157-year-old brewing school relocates to Montréal amid U.S. visa hurdles]()
For global mobility professionals the decision is a case study in how immigration policy shifts drive corporate location choices. By moving north, Siebel ensures its multinational cohorts can obtain study permits within IRCC’s standard processing times, while also giving graduates immediate pathways to post-graduation work permits and employer sponsorship.
The relocation underscores an emerging trend: specialized vocational providers are scouting Canadian cities with strong lifestyle appeal and established immigrant communities to hedge against restrictive U.S. visa rules. Montréal’s bilingual talent pool and Québec’s favourable tuition framework were additional draws.
Local authorities are working with Siebel to fast-track designation as a learning institution and integrate programs with existing hubs such as McGill’s Bioresource Engineering Department, further cementing the city as a beverage-innovation centre.
Québec’s fast-growing craft-beer sector cheered the move, predicting an influx of specialized training and research partnerships. Industry advocates note that Montréal already hosts a dense cluster of micro-breweries and food-science programs; the arrival of Siebel adds brand cachet and could attract students from Europe, Latin America and Asia who might otherwise bypass Canada.
For global mobility professionals the decision is a case study in how immigration policy shifts drive corporate location choices. By moving north, Siebel ensures its multinational cohorts can obtain study permits within IRCC’s standard processing times, while also giving graduates immediate pathways to post-graduation work permits and employer sponsorship.
The relocation underscores an emerging trend: specialized vocational providers are scouting Canadian cities with strong lifestyle appeal and established immigrant communities to hedge against restrictive U.S. visa rules. Montréal’s bilingual talent pool and Québec’s favourable tuition framework were additional draws.
Local authorities are working with Siebel to fast-track designation as a learning institution and integrate programs with existing hubs such as McGill’s Bioresource Engineering Department, further cementing the city as a beverage-innovation centre.
