Canada is reducing the number of study permits it will approve next year by 10 per cent, but it will still issue 437,000 visas to international students.
That’s down from the 485,000 it plans to approve this year.
“The reality is that not everyone who wants to come to Canada will be able to – just like not everyone who wants to stay in Canada will be able to,” said Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Tuesday.
“We are taking action to strengthen our temporary residence programs and roll out a more comprehensive immigration plan to meet the demands of today’s changing landscape. Our immigration system must preserve its integrity, and be well managed and sustainable. And as we look forward, we will do everything it takes to achieve that goal and set newcomers up for success.”
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is also pledging to update the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program autumn in a move touted to better align it with labour market needs.
Ottawa is also going to limit 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, including the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program (IMP).
Work permit eligibility will be also limited later this year to only those spouses of master’s degree students whose programs are at least 16 months in duration.
“The TFWP was designed to address labour market shortages when qualified Canadians were not able to fill those roles,” said Randy Boissonnault, minister of employment, workforce development and official languages.
“Right now, we know that there are more Canadians qualified to fill open positions. The changes we are making today will prioritize Canadian workers and ensures Canadians can trust the program is meeting the needs of our economy.”
Ottawa’s proposed reduction of temporary residents from 6.5 per cent of Canada’s total population to five per cent is to factor into the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan which is due to be released by the end of this month.
As part of changes to the PGWP, all applicants will be required to demonstrate a minimum language proficiency in French or English, demonstrating a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 for university graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates to apply for one of these permits starting Nov. 1.
The tougher rules for temporary immigration to Canada come months after the country’s immigration minister pledged to create a temporary immigration levels plan and reduce the number of international students and temporary workers in Canada.
“The era of uncapped programs to come into this country is quickly coming to an end,” Miller reportedly said. “This is a big shift. You can’t just slam on the brakes and expect it to stop immediately.”
In 2019, the last full year before the Covid-19 pandemic, Canada issued a little more than half a million new study permits and work visas, welcoming a total of 522,110 temporary residents.
Housing Crisis Is Turning The Tide Of Public Opinion Towards Immigration
Four years later, the number of temporary residents with these permits was more than 1.6 million as of the end of 2023.
During the same period, housing became increasingly unaffordable and the tide of public opinion had shifted, with 60 per cent of respondents in a Leger poll conducted in July saying there are too many immigrants coming to Canada.
An Angus Reid poll released Tuesday further indicated the shifting attitude of Canadians towards immigration with almost half of respondents saying the country should close its borders to immigrants.
“As Canadians’ concern over immigration has grown, they have become more supportive of limiting immigrants coming into the country,” reports the pollster. “Half (48 per cent) say closing Canada’s borders to immigrants would be a ‘good thing’.”
The immigration minister’s response to the shift in public opinion has been to take several measures to curb temporary immigration.
Earlier this year, he put a cap on study permit applications, limiting these to 606,250 this year, a move which was expected to reduce the number of new study permits issued this year by 40 per cent.
“The intent of these Instructions is to ensure the number of study permit applications accepted into processing by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration … within the scope of the instructions does not exceed 606,250 study permit applications for one year beginning on the date of signature,” the Canada Gazette reported on Feb. 3.
Ottawa says this cap on international students will better allow the provinces to welcome the students they receive.
The government has also:
- introduced a letter of acceptance verification system to protect students from fraud
- increased the financial requirements that applicants must meet to be approved for a study permit so students are better prepared for life in Canada
- limited the open work permit eligibility for spouses of students to only those situations in which the principal applicant is in a master’s, doctoral or professional degree program, or part of the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot
- introduced reforms to the PGWP that removed eligibility for graduates of college programs delivered through public-private curriculum licensing arrangements
- proposed new regulations to require international students to apply for a new study permit to change schools and hold learning institutions accountable for failing to participate in student compliance and letter of acceptance verification activities
- lower the number of hours per week international students can work off-campus to help students focus primarily on their studies, while still having the option to work.
Temporary foreign workers in Canada have also seen changes, including:
- new and stronger protections for temporary foreign workers through amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations in 2022
- the launch of the Migrant Worker Support Program was that same year to help migrant workers learn about and exercise their rights.
- In increase in the number of employer inspections, resulting in a 36 per cent increase in fines issued in 2023 to 2024 to non-compliant employers using the TFWP
- updated training for decision-making officers on risk assessment and fraud detection, and a revised guidance with a focus on reducing risk tolerance
In February, Ottawa slapped down partial visa requirements for Mexican citizens, who represented about 17 per cent of all asylum claims in 2023.
“This was done in response to a continued increase in asylum claims made by Mexican citizens, the majority of which were refused, withdrawn or abandoned,” notes the IRCC.
“After introducing these changes, the number of overall claims made by Mexican citizens dropped by almost 80 per cent from 1,997 claims in February to 434 claims in June 2024.”
That move came almost a year after Canada and the United States introduced an additional protocol to the Safe Third Country Agreement in March last year to extend its application to the entire land border, including internal waterways.
“This change has resulted in a significant drop in irregular crossings,” notes the IRCC. “The number of irregular asylum claims has dropped from an average of 165 per day in March 2023 to an average of 13 per day since then.”
Canada Study Permit Announcement FAQ
Why is Canada reducing the number of study permits for next year?
Canada is reducing study permits by 10 percent next year, aiming to issue 437,000 visas. The reduction is part of a broader immigration strategy to better manage temporary immigration and align it with the country’s housing and labor market needs. This move reflects a growing concern over immigration’s impact on resources, especially housing availability, and aims to balance temporary residence with Canada’s economic needs.
What changes are coming to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program?
Starting in autumn, applicants for the PGWP will need to meet minimum language proficiency standards in French or English, with university graduates needing a CLB level 7 and college graduates requiring a CLB level 5. These updates aim to better align international student graduates with labor market demands, improving their chances of employment and economic integration.
How will work permit eligibility be affected for spouses of foreign workers and students?
Work permit eligibility for spouses of foreign workers will be limited to those in management or professional jobs or in sectors facing labor shortages. Similarly, only spouses of master’s degree students enrolled in programs of at least 16 months will be eligible for work permits. These changes aim to prioritize skilled foreign workers in critical sectors and reduce the overall number of temporary workers.
What is the rationale behind limiting the number of temporary residents in Canada?
Canada’s immigration policy is shifting to limit temporary residents to five percent of the total population by 2025-2027. This move is driven by concerns over housing affordability and public sentiment, with many Canadians expressing support for reducing immigration. The government is focusing on managing immigration sustainably while ensuring it supports the economy without overburdening public resources.
What new requirements are being introduced for international students in Canada?
Ottawa has introduced several changes, including a cap on study permits, higher financial requirements, and reforms to the PGWP program. International students will also need to reapply for a study permit when changing schools. These measures are designed to ensure students are prepared for life in Canada and prevent fraud in the admissions process.
