Students from India are a significant part of the international student community. These measures, which go beyond border restrictions and extend to amendments to the Postgraduate Work Programme (PGWP) and work eligibility for spouses, will discourage many ambitious students.
Number of Temporary residents The number of temporary workers in Canada has grown rapidly over the past few years and is set to increase from 437,000 in 2019 alone to approximately 1.2 million in 2023, which is the underlying objective behind the new proposals for temporary workers. International Students The number of temporary residents is to be reduced from 6.5% to 5% of Canada’s total population by 2025. According to Miller, “the measures we have taken so far are working”, but he added that a lot more needs to be done to achieve this goal.
Limit on the number of international students
The first-ever international study permit admissions cap was implemented in January. For 2024, the cap is expected to result in about 360,000 accepted students. study permit35% reduction by 2023.
Last night, Miller announced a further reduction in the entry cap on international student study permits for 2025, which is 10% less than the 2024 target of issuing 485,000 new study permits. For 2025, this means reducing study permits issued to 437,000. The entry cap will then be frozen for 2026, to ensure the number of study permits issued remains the same as in 2025.
They explained that this number is higher (than the January announcement) because “we are reducing masters and PhD programs.” In other words, the 2025-2026 study permit admission cap will include masters and doctoral students, who will now also have to submit a provincial or territorial verification letter. In a release, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the immigration branch of the Canadian federal government, said, “We will reserve approximately 12% of the allocation places for these students (masters and doctoral) because of the benefit they bring to the Canadian labour market.”
“Over the next three years, that will result in 300,00 fewer study permits – I think that’s significant,” Miller said.
Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP) Eligibility
It is being updated this fall to better align with immigration goals and labor market needs. For prospective students — those who apply for a PGWP on or after Nov. 1 — the permit will depend on the level of study, Miller said.
“Graduates of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes will continue to be eligible for the PGWP for three years,” he said, adding that such students are better able to transfer their knowledge and skills and adapt to changing economic conditions in the long term.
International students who graduate from college certificate or diploma programs will no longer be eligible for the PGWP unless their work is tied to high labour market demand sectors designated by each province or territory.
In addition, as part of changes to the PGWP program, all applicants will be required to demonstrate minimum language proficiency in either French or English. This will enhance their ability to transition to permanent residence and adapt to changing economic conditions. Anyone applying for a post-graduation work permit on or after November 1, 2024 will be required to have the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 for university graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates.
Miller said this is a dire need that is vital if we are to continue to have success stories of integration into Canadian society.
Manish Kapoor, a regulated Canadian immigration consultant, told the Times of India, “I don’t understand why an English/French language test is required for students to be eligible for the PGWP when they have already graduated in Canada.”
Ken Nickel-Lane, founder of immigration services firm, told TOI, “It is clear that the government wants to reduce the ability of foreign nationals to use colleges at the lower end of the educational spectrum to apply for permanent residency. The PGWP will only be given to those involved in university programmes (bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate), with the exception at the college level being those who graduate from programmes that lead to filling high-demand jobs, possibly in the trades and the like.”
Kapoor says, “IRCC is restricting the eligibility criteria for PGWP to the field of study. As a result, only a few programs will be selected by students, as almost all international students gain Canadian work experience after their studies. If other students are denied this basic facility, why would international students pay four times more tuition fees than domestic students?”
“Overall, Canada is on a mission to significantly reduce the number of temporary residents over the next 3 years. I believe IRCC does not need to reduce the number of international students; these measures will automatically reduce the number,” Kapoor said.
Miller said these requirements would result in a reduction in the number of PGWPs by 175,000 over a three-year period.
Limiting work permit eligibility for spouses
In April 2024, IRCC stopped issuing open work permits for spouses of international students, except for master’s and doctoral programs and certain other professional degree programs. However, this was not conditional on the duration of the program.
Work permit eligibility will be limited, effective later this year (the date has not yet been announced), to spouses of international students in master’s degree programs, only if the program duration is at least 16 months. The open work permit allows holders to work anywhere in Canada and for most employers.
It is further proposed that from 2024 onwards, open work permits will only be available to spouses of foreign nationals in managerial or professional occupations or in labour shortage sectors who are hired under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program or International Mobility Program.
Conclusion
“The reality is that not everyone who wants to come to Canada will be able to – just as not everyone who wants to stay in Canada will be able to. We are taking action to strengthen our temporary residence programs and introduce a more comprehensive immigration plan to meet the demands of today’s changing landscape. Our immigration system must maintain its integrity, and be well-managed and sustainable. And as we look ahead, we will do everything we can to achieve that goal and prepare newcomers for success,” Miller concluded.
The Immigration Levels Plan is a strategic plan that outlines the number of permanent residents Canada wants to admit each year, as well as the policies and programs that will help them integrate. For the first time, the plan, which will be released on November 1, will also include temporary workers. Immigration experts say the target numbers could show a decline for both permanent and temporary residents.
Last November, there was no change in Canada’s immigration levels for the coming three years (2024-2026), keeping in mind the housing crisis and increasing pressure on infrastructure. Canada had planned to welcome 4.85 lakh new permanent residents in 2024 and 5 lakh in 2025. The number of new permanent residents will then stabilize at 5 lakh in 2026.
Nickel-Lane said, “While these changes may have some incremental impact on the housing market over time, and may ease pressure on the health service and schools, their effects will not be seen for some time. Certainly not early enough to save the current Liberal government, and as we look to the election and it is widely expected that there will be a Conservative majority government, these announcements may be somewhat meaningless depending on the timing of the election. Undoubtedly, a new Conservative government will seek to put its mark on the immigration portfolio, and it is likely to be more aggressive with changes, perhaps most of all to those that directly affect the business community.”
