Canada Temporarily Caps International Student Permits to Address Housing and Social Services Challenges

Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, announced a temporary one-third reduction in new international student permits for the year compared to 2023, aimed at addressing surging demand for housing and social services. With the number of international students tripling over the past decade, the cap seeks to manage program integrity, set students up for success, and maintain a sustainable level of temporary residence. Approximately 364,000 international students are expected to receive study permits in 2024, reflecting a 35% decrease from the previous year, with a reassessment planned for 2025.

Master’s and doctoral students, as well as elementary and secondary school students, are exempt from the cap. Minister Miller emphasized the importance of providing necessary resources for international students to succeed in Canada’s education system.

Additionally, the government plans to restrict foreign students’ eligibility for work permits and crack down on private colleges and sham institutions exploiting international students with high tuition fees but offering poor or no education. Miller deems this practice unacceptable, emphasizing the program’s intention to avoid sham degrees leading to unrelated employment.

Speaking broadly, Miller acknowledged the need to address challenges in Canada’s study permit system, describing it as a bit messy and expressing the intention to rein it in.