Canada’s international student visa program is set to undergo significant reduction, potentially achieving a 48% decrease from last year’s figures. According to estimates by ApplyBoard, based on data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the approval of study permits could plummet to 229,000 if current trends persist through 2024, compared to 436,678 permits granted in the previous year.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration has faced mounting pressure to address concerns over rapid growth in temporary immigration, which critics argue contributes to housing shortages and increased living costs. In response, the government announced in January its intention to slash temporary immigration, including a 35% cut in study permits compared to 2023 levels.
This reduction has sparked objections from educational institutions and provincial leaders, notably B.C. Premier David Eby and Colleges Ontario. Eby has advocated for exemptions in critical sectors such as healthcare and childcare to mitigate potential impacts on services and infrastructure development.
B.C. and Ontario, as the primary destinations for international students, are expected to feel the cap’s impact disproportionately, despite its per capita application across all provinces. Colleges Ontario, representing 24 public colleges, expressed concerns about long-term consequences, labeling the cap as a de facto moratorium that disrupts students, employers, and communities alike.
The debate also underscores financial ramifications, with institutions facing significant losses in tuition revenue, given that international students may pay up to ten times more than their Canadian counterparts.
However, concerns about the integrity of the student visa system persist. A federal investigation in 2023 revealed nearly 2,000 suspicious student visas, primarily from India, China, and Vietnam, involving fraudulent admission letters. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has since intensified efforts to identify legitimate applicants amid ongoing scrutiny over national security threats posed by organized crime groups exploiting the system.
Moving forward, the Canadian government faces a delicate balancing act between economic imperatives, immigration integrity, and meeting domestic educational and labor market needs amidst global challenges.