Miller: Canada will reduce the number of international study permits by 35%

Canada will reduce the number of new international student permits by 35 percent next year as part of a temporary two-year cap on foreign enrollments, Canadian Minister Mark Miller announced Monday morning.

This cap is expected to translate into the approval of 364,000 new permits in 2024. The 2025 level will be reassessed for new applications later this year.

He said the move would allow them to make do with the very high fees they receive from urban international students while increasing the number of international students they accept.

Miller also promised that the move would "maintain a consistent level of temporary residency in Canada."
He added that the allowed ceiling is allocated based on the population of the provinces, which means that some provinces will reduce the number of international students.

While the reduction is generally 35% on new student visas, some provinces, such as Ontario, may see reductions of more than 50%.

Miller clarified that the provinces will be responsible for setting the cap between their schools, and the federal government will work with the provinces to reform the policy.

He said he had already had discussions with British Columbia and Ontario, if later commented that the provinces generally have not moved as quickly as the federal government would have liked in dealing with the issue.

Students applying for postgraduate studies such as master's and doctoral degrees will be exempted from the ceiling.

"These are smart people we need to keep," Miller said. Elementary and middle school students are also exempted.

    More than 800,000 international students were issued temporary study visas in 2022. That number in 2023 is more than triple the number of admissions 10 years ago, Miller said last fall.

Study permits are granted for three years. Miller specified that this cap does not include those who are currently studying in Canada and are looking to complete or extend their education.

In his remarks on Monday, Miller emphasized that the purpose of the cap is not to punish international students, but to ensure that their experience and education is.

He said: "Students are a valuable international asset for this country. They are intelligent young people who enrich our communities and are significant socio-cultural and economic. They deserve the best. It was sought and hoped for. And Canada That's why it's famous."

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