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In response to ongoing challenges related to housing shortages and healthcare issues, the Canadian government, under the leadership of Immigration Minister Marc Miller, has introduced measures to regulate the intake of international students. The decision aims to strike a balance between the influx of international students and the resulting strain on Canada’s infrastructure. The new policy involves an intake cap on international students, which will be implemented for two years.
The move comes as the number of foreign students in Canada surpassed one million as of December 2023. In 2022, Canada admitted 550,000 new students from 184 countries. India emerged as the largest source country, contributing 220,000 new students, followed by China with over 52,000 new students.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the cap for the year 2024 is anticipated to result in 360,000 approved study permits, representing a 35% decrease from the previous year. The evaluation of new study permit applications for 2025 will be conducted at the end of the current calendar year. This initiative follows a recent announcement by the Canadian government that international students must now demonstrate double the amount of money in their bank accounts, specifically CAD 20,635, to be eligible for a study permit.
The IRCC emphasised that current study permit holders will not be affected by the intake cap, and renewals of study permits will remain unaffected. Moreover, individuals pursuing master's and doctoral degrees, as well as elementary and secondary education, will not be subject to the cap.
However, in the coming weeks, a change that may impact international students in Canada with spouses is the restriction on open work permits, which will now only be available to spouses of foreign students enrolled in master's and doctoral programs. Spouses of students in other programs, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible for open work permits.
Minister Miller also announced restrictions on postgraduate work permits for foreign students, effective September 1. Under the new regulations, foreign students starting a study program as part of a curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be eligible for a postgraduate work permit upon graduation. This change aims to address the potential misuse of certain programs solely to obtain a work permit. On the positive side, graduates of master's and other short graduate-level programs will remain eligible to apply for a three-year work permit.
In conclusion, these measures represent the Canadian government's proactive approach to manage the growing influx of international students while addressing associated infrastructural concerns. The focus on maintaining a balance in the intake of students reflects the government's commitment to ensuring the well-being of both international students and the host community. As the policies take effect, they are expected to shape the landscape of international education in Canada for the foreseeable future.
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