During the national housing crisis, the Canadian immigration minister announced fresh steps on January 22 to reduce the number of foreign students entering the country.
Revision of Cost-of-Living Requirement for Study Visa Applicants
Prior to January 1, 2024, the cost-of-living requirement for applicants seeking study permit visas was changed to more accurately reflect the true cost of living in Canada and to lessen the risk of student exploitation.
Federal Government’s Target: 35% Reduction in Undergraduate Study Permit
The federal government says it will grant 360,000 undergraduate study licenses in 2024, intending to cut that figure by 35% from 2023.
Provincial Population-Based Caps on Study Permit
Province-by-province population will determine the caps. As a result, certain provinces will experience substantially larger cuts. While some regions may be able to boost their intake of international students, others may experience a drop.
Allocation of Study Permit According to Provincial Populations
Permits will be awarded according to population, with a share of the total amount going to each province and territory. This, according to the federal government, will lead to “much more significant decreases in provinces where the population of international students has seen the most unsustainable growth.”
In the coming months, Canada also plans to continue exploring new ways to facilitate international students’ easier transition into the workforce and to provide students with highly sought-after skills with direct paths to permanent residency.
BOTH THOSE WHO CURRENTLY POSSESS STUDY PERMIT AND THEIR RENEWALS WILL BE UNAFFECTED.
Implementation of Attestation Letter Requirement
To enforce the cap, starting on January 22, 2024, every study permit application submitted to the IRCC will also require an attestation letter from a province or territory.
Deadline for Provinces and Territories to Provide Attestation Letters
Provinces and territories shall establish a mechanism for supplying attestation letters to students by March 31, 2024, at the latest.
Exemptions for PhD and Master’s Students, Primary and Secondary School Pupils
There will be no limits for PhD and master’s students. Primary and secondary school pupils will not be subject to the cap.
The distribution of permits among universities and institutions under their control will be left up to the provinces and territories. The cap will last for two years, and at the end of this year, a new assessment will be made regarding the total number of visas to be granted in 2025.
The cap will ensure that the number of foreign students who arrive in Canada will match the number of students whose visas expire. The result will be a decrease in the number of foreign students attending Canadian universities.
Modifications to Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program is modifying its qualifying conditions to better harmonize them.
Graduates of master’s degrees and other short graduate-level studies will soon be able to apply for a three-year work permit.
Because the current restrictions base a post-graduation work permit’s tenure solely on the length of the individual’s studies program, they limit master’s graduates’ ability to gain work experience and potentially make the transition to permanent residency.
Changes to Eligibility for Post-Graduation Work Visa in Curriculum Licensing Programs
Effective September 1, 2024, international students enrolled in study programs that are part of curriculum licensing arrangements will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work visa after they graduate.
Even though these programs are less regulated than public colleges and can be used as a way to get a work visa after graduation, the number of international students enrolling in them has surged dramatically in recent years.
Impact on Spouses of International Students
Certain overseas students’ spouses won’t be able to obtain open work visas anymore.
The change impacts spouses of international students in undergraduate, college, and most non-PhD graduate programs. Spouses of students in Master’s, PhD, and specialized programs in medicine and law will still be able to obtain open work permits.
This change will not affect current international students whose spouses already have valid study permit and open work permits in Canada. They will still be able to renew their documents.
The measures are being implemented in response to the housing shortage and affordability issues facing Canadians. Canada’s population grew by 1.25 million between October 2022 and October 2023, at a pace of 3.2%, which was the fastest since the 1950s. The majority of that population growth was caused by temporary foreign workers and international students.
