The Canadian government has introduced a proposal aimed at better managing the inflow of international students. This plan includes halting the processing of study permits for post-secondary students if their institutions do not effectively control international student numbers. Higher education institutions will be required to report to the Immigration Department on student attendance and whether students are adhering to their study permit criteria.
The Immigration Department oversees the processing of study permit applications for international students enrolled in Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs). These DLIs are schools approved by provincial or territorial governments to accept international students. Presently, international students are allowed to change their designated institution at any time. However, according to government compliance reports, about 5 percent of international students switch institutions annually.
Additionally, the proposed regulations aim to increase the number of hours international students can work off-campus during regular semesters from 20 hours to 24 hours per week. The government notice highlights that while students are currently required to notify the Immigration Department when they change DLIs, they do not need to submit a new study permit application for such changes. The proposed amendments would mandate that students obtain a new study permit if they wish to transfer to a new DLI.
Canada remains one of the most sought-after destinations for international education. As of last year, there were over one million international students holding active study permits in Canada, a significant increase from 352,305 in 2015. Indian and Chinese students represent the largest groups among these international students, making Canada a top choice for higher education for these two nations. The proposed changes reflect the Canadian government’s efforts to maintain the quality and integrity of its education system while accommodating the growing number of international students. These measures aim to ensure that both educational institutions and students comply with immigration and education policies, fostering a more controlled and sustainable growth of the international student population in Canada.
