Canadian government led by Justin Trudeau has decided to reduce the number of international students coming in by 35% for 2024
In response to Canada’s serious housing problem, the country is making changes that affect international students. Following comments from Canadian immigration minister Marc Miller last October, the government led by Justin Trudeau has decided to reduce the number of international students coming in by 35% for 2024. This means they’ll only approve 360,000 study permits, way less than the 900,000 in 2023.
Looking ahead to the September 2024 semester, Mr. Miller said, “We’re ready to take steps, like limiting visas, to make sure schools support students well.” This limit on international students will be in place for two years but won’t affect current students or those renewing permits. And if you’re going for a master’s or Ph.D., you’re in the clear.
Here’s how they’re putting this cap into action:
- Each province has a limit based on how many students they can handle.
- Provinces then share this limit among different schools.
- New rule: Students need a letter from a province saying they can handle more students.
- This rule started on January 22, 2024.
- Provinces have until March 31, 2024, to figure out how to give out these letters.
Talking about grad programs and work permits, the Canadian government plans to review this cap in 2025. While most changes don’t affect grad, professional, and Ph.D. programs, there are a few things to note:
- No more work permits for students in special programs after they graduate.
- Only spouses of grad students can get open work permits, not spouses of undergrad or college students.
- The cost of living requirement for international students doubled to CAD 20,635 in December. This is to help students deal with the higher cost of living in Canada.
There’s also some tension between India and Canada. Trudeau claimed India was involved in the killing of a terrorist on Canadian soil, leading to a diplomatic issue. A US diplomat said there was “shared intelligence” that backed Trudeau’s claim. This dispute has affected the number of Indian students applying to Canadian universities, according to Mr. Miller.