On This Page You Will Find
- Why Canada is responding to the Auditor General’s report
- Key findings on student visa compliance and fraud
- How many students may be out of status
- What the government plans to change
- The role of CBSA in enforcement
- What this means for international students
Canada’s immigration department has pledged action after a damning audit exposed serious weaknesses in the international student visa system, including widespread non-compliance, fraud risks and poor enforcement.
Senior officials told a House of Commons committee they are developing a plan to strengthen oversight, improve compliance and better manage students whose visas expire. The response comes after the Auditor General found the system was struggling to keep up with rapid growth and mounting integrity concerns.
Deputy Immigration Minister Ted Gallivan said the department will focus on a “full continuum” of compliance, from clearer communication of rules to stronger enforcement measures. That could include stricter monitoring of visa expiries and the use of penalties such as re-entry bans for overstays.
Government Promises Stronger Enforcement
Immigration officials are shifting their focus toward ensuring students follow the rules once they arrive in Canada.
Gallivan said the department is exploring new tools to better track visa expiries and encourage voluntary compliance. This includes potential IT systems to manage departures more effectively and prevent overstays.
He also confirmed that students who remain in Canada without status could face serious consequences, including bans of up to five years.
At the same time, officials stressed that enforcement alone is not the solution. Canada Border Services Agency president Erin O’Gorman told MPs that voluntary compliance is more efficient and less costly than forced removals.
What Did the Auditor General’s Report Say?
The Auditor General’s 2026 report painted a clear picture of a system under strain, with major gaps in oversight, enforcement and data tracking.
1. Massive Non-Compliance With Limited Follow-Up
Post-secondary institutions flagged more than 153,000 students as potentially not complying with visa conditions between 2023 and 2024.
However, the department had funding to investigate only a small fraction of these cases each year. As a result, most concerns were never fully examined.
Even among the roughly 4,000 investigations launched, many could not be completed because students failed to respond to requests for information.
2. Canada Does Not Know Who Has Left
One of the most striking findings was the lack of reliable exit tracking.
The audit found that around 39,500 students in 2024 were expected to leave Canada after their permits expired but had no confirmed status. Only about 40 per cent of them were verified as having actually left the country.
This means tens of thousands of former students may have remained in Canada without valid status.
3. Fraud Cases Went Unchecked
The report identified at least 800 cases where students used fraudulent documents or misrepresented information to obtain study permits.
Despite this, the department did not follow up on these cases.
Many of those individuals later applied for additional permits or even permanent residence, raising serious questions about how fraud risks are managed once a person is already in Canada.
4. Weak Oversight After Students Arrive
The audit found that enforcement largely drops off once students enter Canada.
Officials often relied on students to respond voluntarily to compliance checks. In many cases, no further action was taken when they did not respond.
The department also could not confirm whether many students were still enrolled in their programs, despite reporting requirements for institutions.
5. Approval Rates Fell – And Officials Do Not Know Why
While Canada successfully reduced the number of new study permits, the audit found that approval rates dropped sharply.
In 2024, approval rates fell to around 41 per cent, down from 58 per cent in 2023. Officials admitted they did not understand the reasons behind the decline.
This raises concerns about how policy changes are affecting genuine applicants.
6. Smaller Provinces Hit Harder Than Expected
The system also produced uneven regional impacts.
Although cuts were intended to focus on larger provinces, smaller provinces experienced reductions of 59 per cent or more in study permit approvals.
The Auditor General found the allocation model disadvantaged these regions and did not properly account for local needs.
7. Overall Conclusion: Reforms Falling Short
The report concluded that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada was not effectively implementing its reforms to the international student program.
While some improvements were made, particularly in verifying acceptance letters, broader integrity controls and enforcement mechanisms remain weak.
A System Under Pressure
The audit comes after years of rapid growth in the international student program.
Applications increased by 121 per cent between 2019 and 2023, placing significant strain on processing systems and oversight mechanisms.
In response, Canada introduced caps on study permits and tightened eligibility rules. However, the Auditor General’s findings suggest those measures have not yet addressed deeper structural issues.
What Happens Next?
Officials say the department is now working to improve coordination with the Canada Border Services Agency and strengthen monitoring of students after arrival.
Key areas of focus include:
- Better tracking of visa expiries
- Increased follow-up on non-compliance
- Improved data sharing between agencies
- Stronger enforcement tools where necessary
The government is also expected to refine its approach to balancing program integrity with maintaining Canada’s appeal to genuine international students.
What This Means for Students
For most international students, the message is clear. Compliance will become a bigger priority.
Officials emphasised that the majority of students follow the rules and contribute positively to Canada. However, those who do not may face stricter consequences going forward.
The changes could also lead to more scrutiny during and after the application process, particularly around financial requirements, enrolment and visa expiry.
FAQ
What did the Auditor General find about Canada’s student visa system?
The Auditor General found major weaknesses in compliance, fraud detection and enforcement. Over 153,000 students were flagged for possible non-compliance, but only a small number of cases were investigated. The report also found gaps in tracking whether students leave Canada after their permits expire.
How many students may be out of status in Canada?
The report identified about 39,500 students in 2024 who were expected to leave Canada but had no confirmed departure. Only around 40 per cent were verified as having left, suggesting a significant number may have remained without valid immigration status.
What is Canada doing to fix the system?
Officials say they are improving compliance monitoring, increasing coordination with border authorities and developing new tools to track visa expiries. The focus is on encouraging voluntary compliance while strengthening enforcement where necessary, including potential penalties for overstays.
Were fraud cases properly investigated?
No. The report found at least 800 cases involving fraudulent documents that were not followed up. Many of those individuals later applied for other immigration permits, raising concerns about how fraud risks are managed after entry into Canada.
Will this affect genuine international students?
Most genuine students will not be affected directly. However, they may face more scrutiny during application and while studying in Canada. Authorities are likely to increase checks on compliance, financial requirements and enrolment to protect the integrity of the system.
