Canada Imposes Stricter Rules For International Students, Requirements For Work Permits.

Canada is making substantial changes to its temporary residence programs to ensure the integrity of the system and also better manage the influx of temporary residents. The government announced a 10 percent reduction in the intake cap for international student study permits for 2025 and the introduction of stricter eligibility requirements for work permits.

According to a news release on Thursday, while maintaining a sustainable and effective system, these changes aim to align Canada’s immigration policies with evolving economic and humanitarian needs.

An X post from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on Thursday morning, read, “Today, we announced changes to Canada’s temporary residence programs to better manage the volume of temporary residents, uphold the integrity of our immigration system and protect vulnerable people.

“We’re taking these steps to strengthen our immigration system, address the changing needs of our country and continue to grow our population responsibly.”

In January 2022, the Canadian government stated it would impose a national cap to reduce the intake of international students into the country.

Reports  gathered from a news release titled “Strengthening temporary residence programs for sustainable volumes,” from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website that the government added measures to address asylum system integrity, including partial visa requirements for Mexican nationals and enhanced fraud detection.

The Canadian government, based on the release,  will reduce the intake cap for international student study permits by 10 percent for 2025, decreasing the number from 485,000 to 437,000, and will maintain this cap for 2026.

Furthermore, the Post-Graduation Work Permit Programme will be updated to better align with immigration and labour market needs.

Also, beginning sometimes this year, work permits will only be available to spouses of master’s degree students whose programs are at least 16 months long and to spouses of foreign workers in management or professional roles or sectors facing labour shortages.

It read that: “We are:

• announcing a further reduction in the intake cap on international student study permits for 2025 based on a 10% reduction from the 2024 target of 485,000 new study permits issued, and then stabilizing the intake cap for 2026 such that the number of study permits issued remains the same as 2025
• For 2025, this means reducing study permits issued to 437,000
• updating the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program this fall to better align with immigration goals and labour market needs
• limiting work permit eligibility, later this year, to spouses of master’s degree students to only those whose program is at least 16 months in duration
• limiting work permit eligibility later this year to spouses of foreign workers in management or professional occupations or in sectors with labour shortages—under Canada’s work permit programs (TFWP and IMP).”

In March 2024, Canadian officials revealed, for the first time, a plan to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers after years of high immigration levels.

The latest release reveals Canada will lower the proportion of temporary residents from 6.5 percent to 5 percent of the population by 2026. This will include reforms to the International Student Programme and tighter work permit eligibility to address evolving economic pressures and strengthen system integrity.

It further read, “Canada has a long and proud history of welcoming newcomers from around the world who support our economy and enrich our country. In response to labour shortages and the aftershocks of the pandemic, the federal government took steps to meet the urgent needs of businesses and support our economic recovery. Since then, Canada’s economy has evolved, and we must continue to adapt our immigration system to respond to new pressures, including a softening labour market.

“Earlier this year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced a decrease in the number of temporary residents—from 6.5% of Canada’s total population down to 5% by 2026. To achieve this goal, the federal government is taking action to manage the increase of temporary residents and hold employers misusing the system accountable. We are reforming the International Student Program, tightening eligibility requirements for temporary foreign workers, enforcing employer compliance more strictly, and making labour market impact assessments more rigorous to mitigate fraud, and more.

“To ensure the temporary residents we welcome to Canada can be supported adequately, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced additional measures to manage the volume of temporary resident arrivals, uphold the integrity of our immigration system and protect vulnerable people.”

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller, stated: “The reality is that not everyone who wants to come to Canada will be able to—just like not everyone who wants to stay in Canada will be able to. We are taking action to strengthen our temporary residence programs and roll out a more comprehensive immigration plan to meet the demands of today’s changing landscape. Our immigration system must preserve its integrity, and be well-managed and sustainable. And as we look forward, we will do everything it takes to achieve that goal and set newcomers up for success.”

In his remarks, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, asserted, “The Temporary Foreign Worker Program was designed to address labour market shortages when qualified Canadians were not able to fill those roles. Right now, we know that there are more Canadians qualified to fill open positions. The changes we are making today will prioritise Canadian workers and ensure Canadians can trust the program is meeting the needs of our economy.”

“Actions we have taken, as well as the additional steps announced today, will strengthen our immigration system and help address the changing needs of our country. We have listened to Canadians, including our provincial, territorial and municipal partners, and other community leaders. We will continue to seek to protect the integrity of our system and responsibly grow our country,” the release concluded.

Here are some quick facts from the website:

– The proposed reduction of temporary residents from 6.5 percent of Canada’s total population to 5 percent will be reflected in the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, set to be released by November 1, 2024.

– Graduates from programs at public colleges will still be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) of up to three years if they graduate from fields of study linked to occupations in long-term shortage.

– As part of the changes to the PGWP Program, all applicants must demonstrate a minimum language proficiency in French or English. This aims to enhance their ability to transition to permanent residence and adapt to changing economic conditions. A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 for university graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates will be required for those applying for a post-graduation work permit on or after November 1, 2024.

– The 2025–2026 study permit intake cap will include master’s and doctoral students, who will now need to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter. Approximately 12 percent of allocation spaces will be reserved for these students in recognition of the benefits they bring to the Canadian labour market.

– On January 1, 2024, the cost-of-living requirement for study permit applicants was updated to better reflect the true cost of living in Canada and help prevent student vulnerability and exploitation.

– Budget 2024 proposes $743.5 million over five years, starting in 2024-2025, and $159.5 million ongoing to support the stability and integrity of Canada’s asylum system.

– Further information on the measures announced today will be available on our website in the near future.

– In August 2023, Canada indicated that rising housing costs might lead to placing limits on foreign student visas.

This article was written by Tamaraebiju Jide, a student at Elizade University