Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, has announced that Canada would establish a temporary, two-year cap on the number of new study permits issued to international students. The move is the newest in a series of changes that the government has effected recently to tighten integrity controls within Canada’s student visa programme.
While speaking in Montréal, Miller said, “These measures are to ensure that as future students arrive in Canada, they receive the quality of education that they signed up for and the hope that they were provided in their home countries. It would be a disservice to welcome international students to Canada knowing that now all of them are getting the resources they need to succeed in Canada. Allowing bad actors to continue their operations would be a disservice to all of the good institutions who pride themselves on providing a top-tier academic experience.
“It is unacceptable that some private institutions have taken advantage of international students by operating under-resourced campuses, lacking supports for students, and charging high tuition fees – all the while significantly increasing their intake of international students.”
The minister explained that the government is announcing three principal measures, most notably a temporary two-year cap on new international study permits.
He said: “This is the latest in a series of measures to improve programme integrity and to set international students up for success in order to maintain a sustainable level of temporary residence in Canada as well. For 2024, the cap is expected to result in approximately 364,000 approved study permits, a decrease of 35% from [the number of study permits issued in] 2023.
“In the spirit of fairness, we are also allocating the cap space by province based on population…some provinces will see much more significant reductions. Some provinces will actually have room to [grow] if they so choose but the provinces that have been most heavily affected will have to decrease by about 50% or perhaps even a bit more than 50%, when it comes to new incoming [students].”
Also, the minister announced that effective immediately, applicants must submit a provincial attestation with their study permit application. A related statement from IRCC noted that “Provinces and territories are expected to establish a process for issuing attestation letters to students by no later than 31 March 2024.”
Miller, however, was quick to caution also that the cap would not apply to students in graduate-level programmes, including master’s or doctoral studies. Study permit applications at the elementary and secondary school levels will also be exempted from the cap.
He added: “To be clear, the cap will not apply to applicants within Canada looking to extend their studies as it wouldn’t be fair to prevent someone from finishing their programme. Nor will the cap have an effect on study permit holders currently in Canada.”
The cap will be effective for two years, with the number of new study permit applications that will be issued in 2025 to be assessed at the end of 2024.
IRCC added: “During the two-year cap period, the Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces and territories, designated learning institutions and national education stakeholders on developing a sustainable path forward for international students, including finalizing a recognized institution framework, determining long-term sustainable levels of international students, and ensuring post-secondary institutions are able to provide adequate levels of student housing.”
Miller also announced that as from September 1, Post-Graduate Work Permits will no longer be available to students enrolled in programmes delivered through public-private partnerships. This model is particularly prevalent in Ontario where international enrolment in programmes offered through licensing arrangements or such partnerships has increased in recent years.
The Minister concluded by saying: “In the coming weeks we will be announcing that open work permits will only be allowed and be available to spouses of international students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programmes as well as those enrolled in professional programmes, such as medicine and law. Spouses of students enrolled in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programmes, will no longer be eligible [for work permits].”
Simultaneously, the government is moving to expand post-study work rights for graduate students. Miller explained that “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.”
