Canada Announces Measures To Limit Number Of Foreign Students

Canada will restrict post-graduation work permits and limit admission of international students

As part of its efforts to manage population growth and address housing issues, the Canadian government has announced plans to cap the number of international students it accepts for two years starting in 2024.

The new rule also limits postgraduate students' ability to get work permits after they graduate.

“Today, we are announcing additional measures to protect a system that has become so lucrative that it has opened a path for its abuse. Enough is enough. Through the decisive measures announced today, we are striking the right balance for Canada and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system while setting students up for the success they hope for,” said Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship during the announcement.

The number of total approved student visas will be limited to 360,000 in 2024 which is a 35% reduction compared to the previous year. Study permit applications that will be accepted in 2025 will be re-assessed at the end of the year.

According to Miller, the purpose of this action is to stop UK universities from accepting more students than they can accommodate without providing the necessary infrastructure and safeguards, endangering national security and aggravating the housing crisis.

"Rapid increases in the number of international students arriving in Canada also put pressure on housing, health care and other services. As we work to better protect international students from bad actors and support sustainable population growth in Canada, the government is moving forward with measures to stabilize the number of international students in Canada," the statement read.

International students enrolled in study programs that are part of curriculum licensing agreements—in which students attend a private college licensed to offer the curriculum of a public college—will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work permit after they graduate on September 1, 2024.