Canada Reduces Admission Slots for Foreign Students to Address Housing Crisis

The Canadian government has decided to decrease the number of new international student permits by 35% in 2024 compared to the previous year.

This move is aimed at addressing the country’s housing crisis and ensuring a more sustainable level of temporary residence in Canada.

The cap on new international student permits is expected to result in approximately 360,000 approved study permits for 2024, which is a significant decrease from the 551,405 permits issued in 2023.

The decision was made following discussions with provincial governments to ensure that the provinces that have not been doing their jobs actually rein in those numbers on a pure volume basis.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller said that the government will be allocating cap space by province based on population, meaning some provinces will see a sharper reduction in new international student permits.

The move is expected to impact provinces like Ontario, which will have to cut intake by as much as 50%.

The government said it will announce the cap for 2025 by the end of this year.

The measures are intended to address the issue of “bad actors” who are charging exorbitantly high tuition fees for international students, all while increasing the number of international students they are accepting.

In conclusion, the Canadian government’s decision to reduce the number of new international student permits is aimed at addressing the country’s housing crisis and ensuring a more sustainable level of temporary residence in Canada.