Canada Decides to Further Reduce Number of Study Permits & Tighten Work Permit Eligibility

Key Takeaways

  • International study permits will be cut to 437,000 in 2025 in Canada, a 35 percent drop from 2023.
  • Low-wage temporary foreign workers will see reduced numbers and shortened duration of work terms.
  • The government aims to lower temporary residents to five percent of the population and improve fraud detection in visa processes.

In response to the pressures of rapid population growth, the Canadian government is implementing new measures to reduce immigration further.

In a recent LinkedIn post, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to cut the number of study permits granted to international students and tighten eligibility for work permits starting next year, VisaGuide.World reports.

New Rules For Temporary Foreign Workers & Study Permits

Trudeau said that the country is working to reduce the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers and the shortening of their work terms.

Instead of having foreign workers in the country, he said that businesses need to invest in Canadian workers.

We’re reducing the number of low-wage, temporary foreign workers and shortening the duration of their work terms. We adjusted the program after the pandemic, but the labour market’s changed. We need businesses to invest in Canadian workers.

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau

As for international students, Trudeau revealed that the country would issue 35 percent fewer international student permits this year, with another ten percent decrease planned for next year.

The number of international study permits will be reduced to 437,000 in 2025, down from 509,390 approved in 2023 and 175,920 in the first seven months of 2024.

This marks a ten percent decrease from this year’s figures, with the same limit set to continue through 2026, representing a total decline of 35 percent from 2023.

We’re granting 35 percent fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number’s going down by another ten percent. Immigration is an advantage for our economy — but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down.

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau

Canada Wants to Lower Number of Temporary Residents to 5%

As part of Canada’s commitment to managing immigration, refugee claimants are experiencing a rise. Regarding the issue, the government announced plans to enhance visa integrity measures this week.

They aim to improve decision-making processes so that immigration officers are better equipped to identify fraud and reduce the influx of non-genuine visitors. The government is committed to lowering the number of temporary residents to five percent of the total population, down from 6.8 percent in April.

Not everyone who wants to come to Canada will be able to—just like not everyone who wants to stay in Canada will be able to. We are taking action to strengthen our temporary residence programs and roll out a more comprehensive immigration plan to meet the demands of today’s changing landscape.

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller

The current cuts to foreign student visas are the primary policy driving this reduction in immigration. The recently announced measures are expected to decrease the number of temporary immigrants by 525,000 over the next three years, helping to move closer to the government’s five percent goal.

Earlier this year, the government also imposed a two-year cap on international students, projecting a nearly 50 percent decrease in approvals. Additionally, they rolled back expansions made in 2022 to the temporary foreign worker program, limiting the proportion of low-wage, temporary foreign workers that can make up an employer’s workforce in specific sectors. They have also ceased allowing low-wage temporary workers in communities facing high unemployment rates.

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