Canada has announced a significant reduction in international student permits for 2025, alongside tighter regulations on foreign worker rules, aimed at decreasing the number of temporary residents in the country.
This decision follows several recent initiatives intended to address the record immigration levels that have contributed to Canada’s population surpassing 41 million earlier this year.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration has cited high immigration as a strain on the housing market, job sector, and social services. “It is a privilege to come to Canada. It is not a right,” said Immigration Minister Marc Miller during a news conference on Wednesday.
Starting in 2025, the government plans to issue 437,000 study permits, down from 485,000 in 2024 and over 500,000 in 2023. Additionally, new restrictions will be placed on work permits for the spouses of certain international students and foreign workers.
The government will also increase scrutiny on travel visa applications to combat a rise in fraudulent or rejected asylum claims.
Ottawa has indicated a goal to reduce the proportion of temporary residents to five percent of the population, down from 6.8 percent as of April.
