Reducing Student Permits

Canada’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship department aims to stabilize growth by reducing new international student permits to around 360,000 for 2024.

News Release

January 22, 2024—Ottawa—International students play a vital role in enriching our communities and contributing to Canada’s social, cultural, and economic landscape. However, in recent years, the integrity of the international student system has come under threat. Some institutions have significantly increased their student intakes to boost revenue, leading to a strain on resources and inadequate support for students. The rapid influx of international students has also placed pressure on housing, healthcare, and other services.

To address these challenges and ensure sustainable population growth, the Government of Canada, under the leadership of the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, has announced measures to stabilize the number of international students in Canada. A cap will be placed on new international student permit applications for a two-year period, aiming to approve approximately 360,000 study permits for 2024—a 35% reduction from 2023. Provincial and territorial caps, based on population, will ensure fairness, with significant decreases expected in provinces experiencing unsustainable growth.

These measures will not affect study permit renewals, nor will they impact those pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees, or elementary and secondary education. To implement the cap, starting January 22, 2024, study permit applications must be accompanied by an attestation letter from a province or territory. Provinces and territories will establish processes for issuing these letters by March 31, 2024.

Furthermore, changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program will be introduced to improve alignment and address loopholes. Starting September 1, 2024, international students enrolled in curriculum licensing arrangements will no longer be eligible for post-graduation work permits. Additionally, master’s degree graduates will be eligible for a 3-year work permit to facilitate gaining work experience and potential transition to permanent residence.

In addition, open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students in master’s and doctoral programs, excluding those in undergraduate and college programs. These measures, alongside other reforms to the International Student Program, aim to support genuine students and ensure they have a positive study experience in Canada while stabilizing student arrivals and easing pressures on essential services.