New International Student Program regulations take effect.
By Vineel Rajan
Quick facts:
- To work off campus without a work permit, international students must be studying full-time in a post-secondary academic, vocational, or professional training program or a vocational training program at the secondary level offered in Quebec that lasts at least six months and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
- International students eligible to work off campus may work full-time during breaks in their academic calendar, such as the summer break between school years or the winter break between semesters.
- Twice a year, designated learning institutions are expected to submit a report to IRCC that indicates whether each study permit holder associated with their school has remained enrolled. Students no longer enrolled can be investigated and face enforcement action, as they may be breaking their study permit conditions.
- Designated learning institutions in Quebec have not yet participated in student compliance reporting. It will take Quebec and IRCC some time to set up this reporting system for Quebec DLIs. As such, Quebec DLIs have a grace period before they comply with the compliance reporting requirement.
Canada’s diverse and inclusive society, high-quality educational institutions, and potential opportunities to work or immigrate after graduation have made Canada a leading destination for students worldwide. However, there has been an explosion in the number of International students. In 2023, more than 900,000 foreign students had visas to study in Canada—more than triple the number from 10 years ago. The vast majority of international students are from India, with an estimate of over a million Indian students having received study permits for Canada since 2015, including more than 100,000 having done so in 2024.
According to Canadian government statistics, International student enrollment exceeded the one million mark in Canada at all levels of study at the end of 2023 – a 29% increase from the previous year.
As of November 15th, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada introduced new rules affecting International students, which have significant repercussions for those in Canada. The rules come as the housing shortage, unaffordability bite, and the allegations that many private colleges and educational institutions are mere “Diploma Mill” fake colleges taking advantage of desperate students, greedy landlords, and bad-faith employers.
Canada Immigration Minister Marc Miller said recently. “Canada’s International Student Program must be sustainable, and students must be protected from abuse within the system. Over the past year, IRCC has taken significant steps to ensure the sustainability of the International Student Program by rooting out fraud and protecting students from bad actors and financial vulnerability.”
The government said international student study permits will be reduced by 10 percent from the 2024 target of 485,000. That will mean 437,000 permits issued next year, with that exact target continuing into 2026.
Miller said, “As announced in our 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada’s temporary resident population will decrease over the next few years to align with our long-term economic goals and strengthen the integrity and quality of our temporary resident programs.” Miller stated in September 2024, “It’s the government’s latest immigration-related measure to address Canadians’ ongoing housing and affordability concerns. The international student cap is here to stay.”
The new rules have already taken effect. In November 2024, significant changes were made to the number of hours international students may work off campus. With this change, eligible students can now only work up to 24 hours per week off campus while their classes are in session.
Moving forward, Miller said international students must apply and be approved for a new study permit before changing learning institutions. This change aligns with the vital work we have been doing to strengthen the integrity of the International Student Program.
Designated learning institutions (DLIs) protect the student program against misuse.
There will now be consequences for DLIs that fail to submit compliance reports or verify acceptance letters. With this change, a DLI could be suspended from welcoming new international students for up to a year for failing to provide the required information.
Miller said, “By fixing the off-campus work limit to 24 hours per week, we’re striking the right balance between providing work opportunities and helping students stay focused on their education.
The only positive news for international students is that the new rules caps do not apply to students undertaking master’s and doctoral programs, and the federal and provincial governments will likely continue to target those graduates as “ideal” immigrants. Miller also said a path to wads permanent residency for international students was not a guarantee even if they go on to secure work permits.
International students in Canada have deep concerns. For students already here, there are worries not only about the recent changes in rules but also about changes that might happen in the next few years: Will the government reduce the number of years an international student can stay in Canada after graduation? Will work permit holders have a harder time applying for permanent residency? How will existing students survive and pay their tuition as the affordability crisis continues in Canada? Some students worry parents and families back home will have to make further financial sacrifices to help them survive in an expensive country. Meanwhile, more stories are surfacing of international students living in substandard housing and relying on food banks, turning to drugs, and even committing suicide.
Sarom Rho from the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change in Ontario says the root cause of the problem is that international students are not afforded the same rights and protections as permanent residents. For example, international students need more than public health care in most provinces.
“What this does is add an incredible amount of pressure and stress and sense of exclusion,” Rho said. The stress is tangible for international students and their families. A report by CareEdge Ratings, India’s credit rating agency, reveals that education loans disbursed by Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) for students to pursue studies in Canada grew almost five-fold in three years, from ₹1,426 crore in March 2021 to ₹5,183 crore in June 2023. This stresses Indian families sending their children to study abroad and reciprocally pressures students to succeed under incredible pressure.
What is happening in Canada now is similar to what unfolded in Australia. There, international student enrollments ballooned in specific vocational programs, distorting the labor market and producing “not-so-ideal” immigrants in the Australian government’s eyes. Indian International students became targets of abuse, and Australia faced diplomatic and reputational consequences. The same kind of abuse aimed at international students is also increasing in Canada, much of it directed towards Indian students on social media.
The most significant point made by many international students and those who hope for a path to Canadian permanent residence by merit- studying diligently, gaining Canadian qualifications, and working hard is that they are not just numbers. Exploitable cheap labor and financial units for universities, colleges, and landlords. They are young people taking significant risks at the start of their adult lives. Like any student, they try to plan their futures while navigating a complex, inequitable world. They are far from home, facing adult challenges, such as holding down jobs and studying. They hope that, in time, the immigration system stabilizes to a point where they are seen as valuable assets to Canadian culture, society, and the economy. Canada needs to do a better job of ensuring international student opportunities are commensurate with their studies.
Sources: Canadian government, Office of The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canada International Student Program, Statistics Canada, CareEdge rating India. One Voice, Khalsa Aid Canada, One Voice Canada report – The Realities for International Students: Evidenced Challenges.
