The Canadian government has announced plans to set a two-year cap on its intake of international students from 2024 to control its population growth and address housing concerns.
The new policy also restricts the issuance of work permits to postgraduate students upon graduation.
“Today, we are announcing additional measures to protect a system that has become so lucrative that it has opened a path for its abuse. Enough is enough. Through the decisive measures announced today, we are striking the right balance for Canada and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system while setting students up for the success they hope for,” said Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship during the announcement.
The number of total approved student visas will be limited to 360,000 in 2024 which is a 35% reduction compared to the previous year. Study permit applications that will be accepted in 2025 will be re-assessed at the end of the year.
Miller stated that this move is to curb the increasing student intake by UK varsities without the proper measures and facilities to accommodate them threatening the country’s integrity and deteriorating housing issues.
“Rapid increases in the number of international students arriving in Canada also put pressure on housing, health care and other services. As we work to better protect international students from bad actors and support sustainable population growth in Canada, the government is moving forward with measures to stabilize the number of international students in Canada,” the statement read.
Beginning September 1, 2024, international students who begin a study program that is part of a curriculum licensing agreement, where students physically attend a private college that has been licensed to deliver the curriculum of an associated public college, will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work permit upon graduation.