Canada's 2-Year Cap on International Student Visas: Impact on Indian Students

Canada's 2-Year Cap on International Student Visas: Impact on Indian Students

Canada International Student Visa: Canada has recently unveiled a significant policy shift by imposing a two-year cap on new international student visas, raising concerns, especially among aspiring Indian students. This move, prompted by an escalating housing crisis, is set to reduce new student visas by 35% in 2024, with a reassessment scheduled for 2025.

Canada's 2-Year Cap on International Student Visas: Impact on Indian Students

Impact on Indian Students

The announcement, made by Immigration Minister Marc Miller, highlights that 364,000 new permits will be approved in 2024, greatly impacting the sizable Indian student population in Canada, numbering nearly 3.2 lakhs. Miller emphasized the need to maintain a sustainable level of temporary residence in Canada and cited the national application intake cap as a strategic measure.

Reduction in Visa Issuance

This year will witness a notable 35% reduction in new student visas compared to the approximately 560,000 issued in the previous year. The reassessment in 2025 aims to gauge the effectiveness of this cap on controlling the growth of international students in Canada.

Preferred Destination for Indian Students

The move is expected to particularly affect Indian students who have historically favored Canada for higher studies. In 2022, over 800,000 international students were granted temporary study visas, with 40% of them hailing from India, according to immigration data. As of November 2023, Indian students accounted for approximately 2.15 lakhs of the permits issued that year.

Regional Distribution and Attestation Requirement

Provinces and territories will have the responsibility of deciding how permits are distributed among universities and colleges in their jurisdictions. However, Miller noted that some regions might experience up to a 50% reduction. Additionally, the federal government will now require international students applying for a permit to provide an attestation letter from a province or territory.

Response to Housing Crisis

This policy change is a direct response to Canada's ongoing housing crisis and the increasing pressure on the federal government regarding the rising numbers of non-permanent residents entering the country. It reflects an effort to strike a balance between supporting international education and managing the challenges associated with it.

Conclusion

While this new policy aims to address Canada's housing crisis and regulate the influx of non-permanent residents, it brings forth significant implications for Indian students aspiring to pursue education in the country. The next few years will unfold the real impact of this decision on the landscape of international education in Canada.