By Sumavaya Iqbal 
Canada is rethinking its strategy regarding long-term visas for international students, signaling a potential shift towards more controlled immigration and slower population growth. This policy reassessment is largely influenced by rising living costs, housing shortages, and mounting unemployment pressures.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller, in a statement reported by Bloomberg, explained that the government is working closely with provincial authorities to better synchronize immigration with labor market needs. Historically, Canada has depended on its universities and colleges to attract skilled, working-age immigrants. However, Miller emphasized that obtaining a study visa should not automatically lead to future residency or citizenship.
“People should come here to educate themselves and perhaps return home to apply those skills in their country,” he stated. “That hasn’t always been the recent case.”
Earlier this year, Canada introduced a cap on the number of international student visas, with a projection of fewer than 300,000 new permits this year, a significant drop from the 437,000 issued last year. This new policy aims to more selectively determine which students are granted residency after completing their studies.
Miller highlighted the necessity of aligning job opportunities for international students with their qualifications. He pointed out the need for a more deliberate allocation of post-graduate work permits, especially considering labor shortages in specific provinces.
“The logic for having uncapped or uncontrolled draws from abroad is no longer there,” he added.
Statistics reveal that the number of Canadians holding post-graduate work permits surged to 132,000 new holders in 2022, marking a 78% increase from four years earlier. This surge underscores the pressing need for more strategic management of post-graduate work permits.
The government is also scrutinizing the temporary foreign worker program, which has faced criticism for being misused. Miller’s goal is to reduce the proportion of temporary residents in the country from nearly 7% to 5%.
These policy changes have sparked concerns that Canada may become less welcoming to international students. However, Miller insists that this shift will ensure that study visas are perceived as genuine educational opportunities rather than a backdoor to permanent residency.
Additionally, Miller voiced concerns about the rising instances of racism in Canada, particularly in regions with large immigrant populations. He acknowledged that Canada’s strong consensus on immigration is showing signs of erosion, a troubling trend that the government is keen to address.
In light of these developments, Canada’s approach to international student visas is clearly in a state of transition. The country is striving to balance its need for skilled immigrants with the economic realities and social dynamics currently at play.