In response to significant strains on housing and healthcare caused by a rapid increase in the population of international students, Canada is implementing measures to reduce international student enrollment by 35 percent in 2024. The aim is to alleviate pressure on essential services and ensure a balanced approach to population growth.
Marc Miller, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, revealed the new regulations, which will be in effect for two years. These changes will primarily affect prospective students seeking entry into diploma and undergraduate programs. However, existing students with valid study permits and those pursuing master’s, doctoral, elementary, or secondary education programs will be exempt from these enrollment caps.
Additionally, the Canadian government will no longer issue work permits to students attending colleges operating under a public-private partnership model, mainly located in Ontario. Minister Miller emphasized that these measures are not aimed at restricting international students but rather at maintaining the quality of education and combating the proliferation of fraudulent educational institutions.
To ensure a more equitable distribution of international students across provinces and territories, a predetermined quota system will be established based on regional populations. This approach aims to prevent over-concentration in specific areas and promote broader access to educational opportunities across the country.
Furthermore, changes to the post-graduation work permit program will come into effect on September 1, 2024. International students enrolled in curriculum licensing arrangements, typically offered by private colleges licensed to deliver public college curricula, will no longer be eligible for post-graduation work permits. This adjustment seeks to close loopholes in eligibility criteria and ensure greater oversight in educational programs.
In addition, international students enrolled in postgraduate and short graduate-level programs will be eligible for a three-year work permit, while spouses of those enrolled in postgraduate and doctoral programs can apply for open work permits. However, spouses of students in other academic levels, such as undergraduate or college programs, will no longer qualify for open work permits.
Overall, these changes are part of Canada’s broader efforts to safeguard the well-being of international students, address challenges posed by unchecked growth in student populations, and maintain the integrity of its educational system.
