Ottawa announces it’s further reducing the number of international student permits
However, Miller encouraged these institutions to adjust their recruitment practices and acknowledged that the cost of acquiring international students will likely increase as a result of the new policies.
The Liberal government has announced plans to further reduce the number of international student visas it processes, cutting the target by 10% for 2025 and 2026. The new target will be 437,000 study permits, down from 485,000 in 2024.
This reduction is part of a broader strategy to manage the influx of foreign students, which has sparked concerns over housing pressures and other public services.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that these changes are expected to result in approximately 300,000 fewer study permits over the next three years.
The government is also placing new restrictions on work permits for the spouses of foreign workers and students enrolled in master’s degree programs.
This move comes after a temporary cap was introduced earlier this year, which aimed to limit the number of new student visas by more than a third in response to the growing strain on Canada's housing market.
Miller emphasized that the measures taken so far are starting to show results, with evidence suggesting that certain rental markets, where students are more prevalent, are experiencing less pressure.
Despite these changes, universities and colleges, which rely heavily on international students, have voiced concerns about the unpredictability of the new rules.
However, Miller encouraged these institutions to adjust their recruitment practices and acknowledged that the cost of acquiring international students will likely increase as a result of the new policies.
The ongoing adjustments highlight the delicate balance the government is trying to strike between supporting the international student program and addressing the challenges posed by rapid population growth in certain regions of Canada.
