Canada is welcoming 485,000 international students in 2024 and 473,000 in 2025

Highlights: Canada welcomes 485,000 international students in 2024 and 473,000 in 2025

• Canada welcomes 485,000 international students in 2024 and 437,000 visas to international students in 2025.
• Canada’s immigration policy is shifting to limit temporary residents to five per cent of the total population by 2025-2027.
• From November 1, 2024, applicants must demonstrate language proficiency, CLB level 7 for university graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates, to apply for PGWP.
• Spouses of foreign workers with minimum 16-month course duration will be eligible for work permits.

 

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Canadian government puts a cap on International students

 This year, IRCC is issuing 485,000 study permits. IRCC will also update the post-graduation work permit to better align with labor market needs.

 

Ottawa plans to limit the number of spouses and foreign workers in management or professional occupations or sectors with labor shortages eligible by this year under Canada’s work permit programs, including the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program (IMP). Spouses of master’s degree students whose programs are at least 16 months long can only apply for eligible work permits.

 

Ottawa also plans to reduce temporary residents from 6.5 per cent of Canada’s total population to five per cent. As part of changes to the PGWP, starting Nov 1, 2024, all applicants will be required to demonstrate a minimum language proficiency in French or English, showing a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 for university graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates, to apply for one of these permits.

 

*Want to work in Canada? Talk to Y-Axis for complete guidance.

 

Canada is facing a housing crisis

Earlier this year, the Canadian government capped study permit applications at 606,250, a move expected to reduce the number of new study permits issued this year by 40 per cent.

 

These changes are made to improve housing affordability and public sentiment, with many Canadians expressing support for reducing immigration.

 

The Canadian government has introduced new rules for the students, such as:

 

• A letter of acceptance verification system
• Applicants must meet the increased financial requirements.
• Limitation on the open work permit for spouses of students
• Introduced new rules for PGWP that removed eligibility for graduates of college programs delivered through public-private curriculum licensing arrangements
• Proposed new regulations to require international students to apply for a new study permit to change schools and hold learning institutions
• Lowering the number of hours per week allows international students to work off-campus

 

The Canadian government has also introduced new rules for temporary foreign workers, such as:

 

• Temporary foreign workers would be provided with new and more robust protections
• The launch of the Migrant Worker Support Program
• An increase in employer inspections
• Updated training for decision-making officers

 

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance for Canada Immigration? Talk to Y-Axis, the leading overseas immigration consultancy in Australia.

 

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