Over 200,000 Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) are set to expire in Canada over the next 15 months, according to new data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). As a result, many international students face uncertain futures, particularly those relying on their Canadian work experience to qualify for permanent residency.
On September 18, 2024, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced measures to reduce the number of temporary residents, cutting the international student population to 5 percent of Canada’s overall population.
This move is part of a broader strategy following a two-year cap imposed earlier, which reduced student visas by 35 percent. The changes primarily aim to ease pressure on Canada’s strained housing market.
In 2023, Canada welcomed over one million international students, significantly rising from 352,305 in 2015. The highest number of international students comes from India, with 28,230 students entering Canada in 2023, up from just 3,255 in 2016.
Despite the growing demand, the IRCC plans to reduce study permits for international students by an additional 10 percent in 2025, which may particularly impact Indian students, the largest demographic of study permit holders.
Moreover, work permits for spouses of international students have been changed, restricting eligibility to spouses of students in master’s programs lasting at least 16 months.
These reforms highlight Canada’s ongoing efforts to manage its international student population and temporary foreign worker streams, with the Low-wage Stream of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program now capped at 10 percent starting September 26, 2024.
The post Canada Announces Cuts to International Student Permits as 200,000 Work Permits Expire appeared first on CI News | Latest Canada Immigration News.
Take a look at how our clients appreciate what we do.
