- The Immigration Minister of Canada has cautioned universities that the government may enforce more restrictions on student visas.
- In January of this year, Canada introduced stricter measures aiming to lower study permits by 35 percent.
- Canadian Bureau for International Education expressed concerns that this limit could lead to unintended repercussions.
Canada may impose further restrictions on international student visas, the Canadian Minister of Immigration Marc Miller has warned.
In a statement issued on April 22, Miller said that higher education institutions play a vital role in recruiting international students, VisaGuide.World reports.
Post-secondary institutions have a critical responsibility when recruiting students abroad, as well as supporting them here. We have taken some important steps to strengthen the international student visa system and will not hesitate to do more if need be.Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada
Canada Aims To Reduce International Student Permits by 35%
In January 2024, the Canadian government introduced stringent measures in an effort to reduce the rising influx of international students. More specifically, authorities aim to lower the number of approved study permits to 360,000, which is 35 percent less than in 2023.
Among other things, these measures were taken in an attempt to tackle the fast-growing number of foreign students in Canada.
Through the decisive measures announced, 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.Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada
In March 2024, authorities in Nova Scotia also announced a decrease of 35 percent in international student visa allowance.
Brian Wong, the Minister of Advanced Education, explained that Nova Scotia had reached its limit for accepting international student applications for the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 12,900 applications.
CBIE Raised Concerns Over Potential ‘Unintended Repercussions’ of Visa Limit
Following these measures, the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) raised concerns that this could lead to unintended repercussions.
Through a statement released in January, CBIE said that a 35 percent decrease in student visas is “ultimately a signal” to potential foreign students worldwide that “Canada is closing its doors”.
These measures have the potential to cause irreparable harm to the EduCanada brand, and in a highly globally competitive market, students may opt to choose other countries instead, well beyond the two-year duration of these measures.CBIE
Number of International Students in Canada Increased by 29% in 2023
According to IRCC, more than one million international students with active study permits were in Canada in 2023. This figure marked a 29 percent increase compared to 2022.
The highest number of study permits in 2023 were issued to students from India, China, the Philippines, Nigeria, France, Iran, Nepal, Vietnam and Mexico.
