Canada Plans to Reduce International Student Permits by One-Third

Canada plans to reduce the issuance of new study permits to international students by one-third this year in an attempt to alleviate the rising demand for housing and social services. The current influx of international students is projected to be three times higher than a decade ago.

The immigration minister announced the decision on Monday, indicating that around 364,000 international students will receive permits in 2023, marking a 35% reduction from last year. The limit for 2025 will be evaluated at the end of this year.

The goal of the cap is to ensure a manageable level of temporary residents, guarantee the success of international students, and sustain program integrity, according to Immigration Minister Marc Miller during a press briefing in Montreal.

Miller stressed the importance of providing sufficient resources for the success of international students, to prevent any of them from leaving Canada with negative experiences of its educational system.

Exemptions from the cap include students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees, as well as those in primary and secondary education.

The government also intends to tighten work permit rules for foreign students and address the issue of exploitative private colleges that overcharge for substandard education.

Miller criticized the existence of fraudulent institutions offering non-credible business degrees, which do not align with the program's purpose and need urgent regulation. He acknowledged that the current state of Canada's study permit system requires significant restructuring.