Canada is implementing significant adjustments to its temporary residence programmes to better manage the influx of temporary residents and ensure system integrity.
In a statement by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on Thursday, the government said it is reducing the intake cap for international student study permits by 10 per cent for 2025, from 485,000 to 437,000, and will maintain this cap for 2026. It is also introducing stricter eligibility requirements for work permits.
These changes, according to IRCC, aim to align Canada’s immigration policies with evolving economic and humanitarian needs while maintaining a sustainable and effective system.
“Today, we announced changes to Canada’s temporary residence programs to better manage the volume of temporary residents, uphold the integrity of our immigration system and protect vulnerable people.
“We’re taking these steps to strengthen our immigration system, address the changing needs of our country and continue to grow our population responsibly,” the statement said.
Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who also confirmed the development in a post on his X account, said foreign students intake will be slashed by 10 per cent from 2025.
Trudeau said the restriction has become imperative to protect the country.
“Immigration is an advantage for our economy — but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down,” the prime minister said.
The government also added measures to address asylum system integrity, including partial visa requirements for Mexican nationals and enhanced fraud detection.
“Additionally, we are updating the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program to better match immigration and labour market needs.
“Starting later this year, work permits will be limited to spouses of master’s degree students whose programmes are at least 16 months long, and to spouses of foreign workers in management or professional roles or sectors with labour shortages.
“We are announcing a further reduction in the intake cap on international student study permits for 2025 based on a 10% reduction from the 2024 target of 485,000 new study permits issued, and then stabilizing the intake cap for 2026 such that the number of study permits issued remains the same as 2025
“For 2025, this means reducing study permits issued to 437,000
“Updating the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program this fall to better align with immigration goals and labour market needs
“Limiting work permit eligibility, later this year, to spouses of master’s degree students to only those whose program is at least 16 months in duration
“Limiting work permit eligibility later this year to spouses of foreign workers in management or professional occupations or in sectors with labour shortages—under Canada’s work permit programs (TFWP and IMP),” it said.
Canada relies on economic immigrants to raise the revenue it needs to support social spending on services such as education and healthcare, as it strives to maintain high living standards amid the country’s low birth rate.
However, the North American country has in recent times tweaked its liberal immigration policies.
Earlier in 2024, the Canadian government announced a two-year cap on study permits to limit its international students intake.
Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, unveiled what he described as principal measures to improve programme integrity and maintain a sustainable presence among international students entering the country.
Miller said Canada will approve 364,000 undergraduate study permits in 2024, a reduction of 35 per cent from 2023.
The minister said the total would be spread across each province and territory, according to population.
In August, Canada recalibrated its labour market by announcing a slash on foreign workers and investments in its workforce.
The overhaul reversed expansions made to the temporary foreign worker (TFW) programme in 2022, which saw an increase in economic migrants arriving the country to fill one million vacant positions.
According to the statement, Canada is reducing the proportion of temporary residents from 6.5 per cent to 5 per cent of the population by 2026.
“Canada has a long and proud history of welcoming newcomers from around the world who support our economy and enrich our country. In response to labour shortages and the aftershocks of the pandemic, the federal government took steps to meet the urgent needs of businesses and support our economic recovery. Since then, Canada’s economy has evolved, and we must continue to adapt our immigration system to respond to new pressures, including a softening labour market,” it added.
