Canada Cautions On Additional Measures For Student Visas

The Canadian government is considering tightening regulations for international students in response to increasing anti-immigration sentiments globally.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller suggested that if post-secondary institutions fail to take action, the federal government may take further steps to limit the number of international students. He noted that recent measures to impose caps on international student numbers have reinforced the Study Permit system.

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Miller urged colleges and universities to act responsibly in recruiting and supporting students from abroad, indicating potential government actions if deemed necessary.

The Canadian authorities announced a 35 percent reduction in the number of international students compared to 2023 due to housing shortages. Each province has been assigned a portion of the cap based on population and other factors.

Despite issuing 683,235 Study Permits last year, the new regulations will significantly decrease student numbers, leading to visa rejections for some applicants.

Furthermore, the government plans to introduce caps on temporary residents entering the country starting this fall to address housing shortages and inflation. Currently, there are about 2.5 million temporary residents in Canada, comprising 6.2 percent of the population. Minister Miller aims to reduce this figure to five percent over the next three years, with the first cap set to take effect in September to ensure sustainable growth in temporary residents.