Changes to International Student Program
Jan. 25, 2024
Global Korean Post
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International students enrich our communities and are a critical part of Canada’s social, cultural and economic fabric.
In recent years, the integrity of the international student system has been threatened. Some institutions have significantly increased their intakes to drive revenues, and more students have been arriving in Canada without the proper supports they need to succeed.
Rapid increases in the number of international students arriving in Canada also puts pressure on housing, health care and other services.
As we work to better protect international students from bad actors and support sustainable population growth in Canada, the government is moving forward with measures to stabilize the number of international students in Canada.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that the Government of Canada will set an intake cap on international student permit applications to stabilize new growth for a period of two years.
The announcement of a temporary two-year cap on international students is the latest in a series of measures by the Government of Canada to improve program integrity, set international students up for success and maintain a sustainable level of temporary residents.
This will set an intake cap on international student permit applications to stabilize new growth, for a period of two years.
For 2024, the cap is expected to result in approximately 360,000 approved study permits, a decrease of 35% from 2023.
In the spirit of fairness, individual provincial and territorial caps have been established, weighted by population, which will result in much more significant decreases in provinces where the international student population has seen the most unsustainable growth.
Study permit renewals will not be impacted. Those pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees, and elementary and secondary education are not included in the cap. Current study permit holders will not be affected.
