The two-year limitation on international student admissions will cut down the number of new study visas for this year by 35%.
The Canadian government is limiting a major driver of its recent population growth by capping the number of foreign students.
Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a two-year limitation on international student admissions, reducing the number of new study visas for 2024 by 35%.
Effective January 22, every study permit application submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will also require an attestation letter from a province or territory. Provinces and territories are expected to outline their processes for providing attestation letters to students by no later than March 31.
“International students are vital to Canada and enrich our communities,” Miller said. “As such, we have an obligation to ensure that they have access to the resources they need for an enriching academic experience.”
Certain provinces, including Ontario, are expected to see an even more pronounced decline, reaching 50% or higher.
Miller said that the cap is part of an effort by both federal and provincial authorities to address a situation where high tuition fees for international students may not correspond to a satisfactory educational experience.
“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,” Miller added.
One of the most prominent new policies to impact Canada’s housing market this year has been a two-year ban on foreign non-resident buyers..https://t.co/WJHXmmFS0L
— Canadian Mortgage Professional Magazine (@CMPmagazine) March 2, 2023
The federal government stressed that these measures extend beyond admissions quotas. Effective September 1, students in institutions adopting a private-public model will be barred from obtaining postgraduate work permits.
Additionally, within a few weeks, open work permits will be restricted to spouses of students enrolled in specific advanced programs, encompassing master’s and doctoral studies, as well as professional disciplines like medicine and law.
“These programs have seen significant growth in attracting international students in recent years, though they have less oversight than public colleges and they act as a loophole with regards to post-graduation work permit eligibility,” the government said.
“Graduates of master’s and other short graduate-level programs will soon be eligible to apply for a three-year work permit. Under current criteria, the length of a postgraduation work permit is based solely on the length of an individual’s study program, hindering master’s graduates by limiting the amount of time they have to gain work experience and potentially transition to permanent residence.”
