Canada implements 35% cut in foreign student permits

New Delhi: Canada has imposed a cap on the number of study permit applications accepted for international students, expecting a 35% decline in approvals for the year 2024 compared to 2023. The announcement was made by Mark Miller, Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Minister. and Citizenship, stating that the temporary limit will remain in effect for two years, to be reevaluated for the year 2025 later this year.

The 2024 cap is expected to result in approximately 360,000 approved study permits, which represents a significant decrease from the 2023 figures. The decision comes amid concerns that some private institutions have exploited international students, operating under-resourced campuses with inadequate student support and high tuition. Tuition fees increasing the number of international students.

Minister Mark Miller expressed his dissatisfaction during a press conference in Montreal, saying, “It is unacceptable that some private institutions have taken advantage of international students…”. The move aims to address issues such as under-resourced campuses, lack of student support and exorbitant tuition fees.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) highlighted the challenges posed by the rapid increase in the number of international students, placing pressure on housing, health care and other services. The announcement coincides with the return of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet to Quebec, where housing affordability concerns have increased political pressure on the government to regulate temporary immigration.

Students from India are the largest national group among students with study permits. As of November 2023, they accounted for 37% of the 579,075 permits issued. The new measures also include a decision not to issue postgraduate work permits to students attending private colleges operating under course licensing programmes. These programs, which have seen significant growth, are considered a loophole for post-graduation work permit eligibility.

Minister Miller emphasized that the additional measures are intended to protect the integrity of the immigration system, strike a balance for Canada, and ensure the success of international students within the country. The move comes after Canada reached more than one million study permit holders in the country for the first time in 2023.