Ottawa: In a major move, Canada will take steps to manage its temporary resident population by reducing the number of study permits issued to international students and tightening eligibility for work permits. In other words, the Canda government is planning to reduce the number of study permits from 4,85,000 in 2024 to 4,37,000 in 2025, which is a 10 per cent decrease.
Taking to X(formerly Twitter), Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote, “We’re granting 35% fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number’s going down by another 10%. Immigration is an advantage for our economy — but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down.”
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship on Wednesday announced additional measures to manage the volume of temporary resident arrivals, uphold the integrity of our immigration system, and protect vulnerable people.
“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,” the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Department of the Government of Canada in a news release said.
The news release stated, “We are 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).”
The 2025-2026 study permit intake cap will include master’s and doctoral students who will now have to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter. “We will be reserving approximately 12% of allocation spaces for these students in recognition of the benefits they bring to the Canadian labour market,” the news release added.
Meanwhile, Miller in a statement said that the action is being taken to strengthen temporary residence programmes and emphasised preserving the integrity of the Canadian immigration system.
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship added, “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.”
The move comes as the Canadian government is looking to reduce the number of temporary residents. Canada is one of the most sought-after destinations for Indian students. Trudeau’s announcement is likely to impact many Indian students who wish to study in Canada. According to the website of the High Commission of India in Ottawa, education is a key area of mutual interest between India and Canada. India is the largest source country of foreign students with an estimated 427,000 Indian students studying in Canada.
(Agencies inputs)
Taking to X(formerly Twitter), Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote, “We’re granting 35% fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number’s going down by another 10%. Immigration is an advantage for our economy — but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down.”
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship on Wednesday announced additional measures to manage the volume of temporary resident arrivals, uphold the integrity of our immigration system, and protect vulnerable people.
“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,” the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Department of the Government of Canada in a news release said.
The news release stated, “We are 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).”
The 2025-2026 study permit intake cap will include master’s and doctoral students who will now have to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter. “We will be reserving approximately 12% of allocation spaces for these students in recognition of the benefits they bring to the Canadian labour market,” the news release added.
Meanwhile, Miller in a statement said that the action is being taken to strengthen temporary residence programmes and emphasised preserving the integrity of the Canadian immigration system.
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship added, “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.”
The move comes as the Canadian government is looking to reduce the number of temporary residents. Canada is one of the most sought-after destinations for Indian students. Trudeau’s announcement is likely to impact many Indian students who wish to study in Canada. According to the website of the High Commission of India in Ottawa, education is a key area of mutual interest between India and Canada. India is the largest source country of foreign students with an estimated 427,000 Indian students studying in Canada.
(Agencies inputs)