The Canadian government has announced its decision to reduce the number of student visas granted to international students by 35% over the next two years. The move aims to address concerns over the impact of the growing international student population on the housing market and curb unethical practices by certain institutions. Under the new measures, a total of 360,000 undergraduate study permits will be approved in 2024, marking a significant decrease from the previous year.
The distribution of study permits will be based on the population of each province and territory, which is expected to lead to considerable decreases in regions where the international student population has experienced unsustainable growth.
The cap on international student intake will remain in place for two years, and a reassessment of the number of visas to be issued in 2025 will take place at the end of this year.
The Canadian immigration minister, Marc Miller, has expressed concerns about private institutions taking advantage of international students. He highlighted issues such as operating under-resourced campuses, lacking student support, and charging exorbitant tuition fees. Miller emphasized that these measures are not meant to target individual international students, but rather to ensure that future students receive the quality education they expect.
The new cap is expected to have an impact on Indian students who are looking to study in Canada. According to data from 2022, India has the highest number of study permit holders in Canada. Indian students accounted for 37% of the total permits issued till November 2023, and 41% in 2022.
The implementation of a cap could potentially result in fewer Indian students being accepted into Canadian university programs, posing challenges for well-qualified Indian students, especially in popular fields of study.
In addition to the visa cap, international students will now be required to provide an attestation letter from a province or territory when applying for a permit. These changes are intended to ensure that students receive the education and support they were promised when they decided to study in Canada.
Furthermore, revisions have been made to the post-graduation work permit program. Starting in September, international students enrolled in programs offered by private colleges under a curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work permit. However, graduates of master’s and other short graduate-level programs will soon be able to apply for a three-year work permit. Open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students pursuing master’s and doctoral programs.
These measures come shortly after the earlier initiatives announced by Minister Miller to address concerns related to what he referred to as the diploma equivalent of puppy mills.
The Canadian government’s decision to cap international student intake is expected to have implications for Indian students seeking to study in Canada. While the focus is on addressing issues related to housing and unethical practices, the new measures may pose challenges for well-qualified Indian students in their pursuit of quality education in popular fields of study. The government aims to ensure that future students receive the support and education they expect from Canadian institutions. Revisions to the post-graduation work permit program will also impact the eligibility of certain students and prioritize the quality of education provided.
