Canada announces cap on international students. Here's how it will work

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Canada has finally announced its much-anticipated plans to restrict international students moving into the country.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled a temporary cap on the issuance of study visas for international students. According to the information released by IRCC, the cap for the year 2024 is anticipated to lead to approximately 360,000 approved study permits, marking a 35% decrease from the figures recorded in 2023.

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“International students are vital to Canada and enrich our communities. As such, we have an obligation to ensure that they have access to the resources they need for an enriching academic experience. In Canada, today, this isn’t always the case. Today, we are announcing additional measures to protect a system that has become so lucrative that it has opened a path for its abuse. Enough is enough. Through the decisive measures announced today, we are striking the right balance for Canada and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system while setting students up for the success they hope for,” Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said.

IRCC is set to implement caps for each province and territory, with these limits being proportionate to the respective populations. This strategic move aims to address the substantial growth of the international student population in provinces where the surge has been deemed unsustainable.

These caps will not affect existing study permit holders or those seeking permit renewals. Masters and doctoral degree pursuits are also exempt from these limitations.

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