By Hamid Moghimi
New Canadian Media

International students increasingly view a Canadian education as a pathway to immigration, but it is not a guaranteed route to permanent residency.

A look at the numbers shows there are far more international students looking to stay in the country than is possible under current immigration levels.

The Canadian Bureau for International Education reported that by the end of 2022, over 800,000 international students were enrolled across various academic levels in Canada, indicating a notable 31 percent increase from 2021 to 2022. A significant majority of these students pursued their studies within college institutions, and according to the bureau’s statistics, 60 percent of them intend to seek permanent residency in Canada.

The number of international students in Canada, compared to the number of total immigrants — students and others — the country will accept in 2024, proves that a Canadian education isn’t enough to obtain PR.

“The numerical disparity is the primary loophole in education policy. Despite a specific cap set at about 485,000 immigrants for 2024 across various programs, we currently host approximately 900,000 international students,” said Marshia Akbar, research area lead on Labour Migration at Toronto Metropolitan University.

“This indicates that colleges and universities can admit any number of international students without aligning with the planned immigration levels.”

Post-secondary institutions and the government reap financial benefits from international students. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, these students are worth billions.

“International education accounts for more than $22 billion in economic activity annually, surpassing Canada’s exports of auto parts, lumber, or aircraft, and sustains over 200,000 jobs in Canada,” the IRCC reported. “The temporary decline in international student numbers in 2020 led to a loss of over $7 billion for Canada’s gross domestic product that year.”

Said Akbar: “The educational pathway essentially serves as a migration pathway, notably emphasized by postsecondary education institutions, particularly colleges.

“These institutions rely on international students to augment their revenue. Hence, they often promote a narrative that encourages students to pursue studies, assuring them that upon graduation, they will secure employment leading to permanent residency.”

Ujjwal Preet, at the age of 19, honoured his father’s wish and relocated to Canada in 2019.

“If work permits or PR were not an option, I would not have been sent to Canada,” he said. “The paramount factor that prioritizes Canada is its acceptance of immigrants and the welcoming nature towards newcomers.

“Undoubtedly, Canada possesses a commendable education system, but for many of us students, the aspiration is to establish a healthy lifestyle, a stable life abundant with opportunities to support our families and ourselves.”

Akbar said another hurdle inhibiting international students from obtaining permanent residency is the absence of job market support. This represents the second mismatch between education policy and programs tailored for international students.

 “As students are considered temporary, they are excluded from federally funded settlement services, including various forms of employment training and services,” she said. “Consequently, the challenges linked to obtaining employment and the lack of work experience needed for immigration through Express Entry often pose barriers that hinder many from attaining permanent residency.”

According to Akbar, this discrepancy implies that students who exerted considerable effort and invested significant resources to relocate to Canada for a fresh start may be unable to attain their objective of obtaining permanent residency.

Recent developments, like the housing crisis, have prompted decision-makers to take action to address these issues. Marc Miller, Minister of IRCC, affirmed, “International students are talented, bright and deserving of a positive experience as they pursue their studies in Canada. We will continue to improve Canada’s International Student Program by protecting students and weeding out those who try to take advantage of them.”

In another statement, The IRCC Minister said, “Ahead of September 2024 we are prepared to take necessary measures including limiting visas to ensure that designated learning institutions provide adequate and sufficient student support as part of the academic experience.”

New rules that will impact international students

Since December 2023, Canada has announced several new rules affecting foreign students, aimed at stabilizing the growth of the international student population and ensuring the integrity of the education system. Here's a summary of the key changes that have been introduced:

1. Updated Financial Requirements: Starting from January 1, 2024, the financial requirement for study permit applicants has been significantly increased to ensure students are better prepared for the cost of living in Canada. Previously set at $10,000 for a single applicant, the new requirement is now $20,635, plus the first year of tuition and travel costs. This figure represents 75% of the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) and will be adjusted annually based on updates from Statistics Canada.

2. Temporary Cap on Study Permits: For the year 2024, there is a temporary federal cap on the number of study permits to be issued, expected to decrease by 35% over 2023 to 360,000 permits. The cap for 2025 will be decided at the end of 2024. This measure is to manage the rapid growth of the international student population and ensure sustainable support systems are in place.

3. Changes to Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Eligibility: Important updates have been made regarding PGWP eligibility. Specifically, international students starting study programs in private colleges delivering licensed curriculum on or after September 1, 2024, will not be eligible for PGWPs. Moreover, students completing master’s programs in Canada will soon be eligible for three-year PGWPs.

4. Spousal Open Work Permit Eligibility Changes: Only spouses of international students enrolled in master’s, doctoral, and professional programs will now be eligible for open work permits, a change aimed at aligning the eligibility criteria with the level of study that significantly contributes to research and development efforts in Canada.

5. Provincial Caps and Attestation Letters: Starting March 31, 2024, every study permit application will require an attestation letter from a province or territory. This is part of introducing caps for each province and territory, weighted by population, to address the growth of the international student population sustainably.

6. Processing Pause and Attestation Requirement: The sudden halt in study permit processing, pending the establishment of provincial attestation systems, has already impacted enrollments. Institutions and stakeholders have expressed concern over the potential long-term effects on Canada’s ability to attract global talent.