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Canada has started to follow Australia’s attempt at reducing the number of incoming international students. Marc Miller, the federal immigration minister of Canada, has made proclamations that the government is now looking into ending the uncapped number of allowed international students.
Earlier this year, Canada put a temporary cap on the number of new international student visas issued. The number of study visas that were and will be approved in 2024 is projected to be around 300,000, which is 35% lower than in 2023. The new cap for 2025 will be determined after examining the numbers and the success of this endeavor at the end of 2024. Masters and PhD students are exempt from this limitation.
Now that there is a limit established for incoming international students, the Canadian government needs to decide on who they should allow to stay. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been faced with increasing pressure regarding the ever-increasing cost of living, housing shortage, and low employment rates.
Over the last decade, Canada has issued more and more study visas for international students to boost their economy and increase their universities’ standings. However, the infrastructure required to support this high number of temporary immigrants was not kept up to date, which created unprecedented pressures in various sectors. Canadian citizens are looking to blame international students for several socioeconomic issues. They claim that the wealthier international students are buying homes, and occupying jobs and that the students that do end up staying are of lesser quality.
“We have to make sure that we have more diversity, more qualified, more talented bunch of people coming into the country, and to make sure that they know exactly what they’re getting into - Canada is not a cheap place to live in.” - Marc Miller.
Furthermore, incoming international students will have to prove that they have at least $20,635 CAD before arriving in Canada, previously $10,000 CAD. This higher financial requirement from students may actively eliminate underprivileged students. While the Canadian government claims that this change was made to reflect a more “realistic picture of students’ living expenses in Canada,” all it does is make receiving study permits more competitive.
The Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) has also received changes. It is an open work permit that allows international students to work in Canada who have completed an eligible study program for longer than eight months. However, starting September 1, 2024, international students who study at a public-private partnership (PPP) institution as part of a curriculum licensing agreement will no longer be eligible. Masters and PhD students will now be qualified for a three-year PGWP instead of the usual one to two-year PWGP.
The Canadian government is making large strides to weed out international students who only come to Canada on a student visa to easily immigrate. These measures are, however, giving off the impression that Canada is no longer a good place to study. “Canada is now being seen as less welcoming as it has been before,” Miller said. He continued that these new restrictions are put in place to attract more quality students and residency be only given to those who deserve it.
Miller also seems to be aware of the growing racist movements in Canada, which draws concern. International students should weigh their options and do their research accordingly when thinking of going abroad to study in Canada.
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