Canada’s two-year cap on international student intake; know what it means for Indian students

As per reports, Canada has recently declared a two-year cap on the intake of international students, signaling a notable policy shift. This announcement has come in response to concerns about the integrity of the international student system, with a focus on preventing certain institutions from exploiting increased student numbers for financial gains.

What is it?
Under the new policy, Canada aims to limit the number of approved study permits to 360,000 for the current year. This, if reports are to go by, is a substantial 35% decrease from last year’s number. It was noted that a number of “bad actors” or institutions were taking in international students without any proper support for the students. The move is also driven by a desire to stabilise the growth of international student numbers in the country which, when left unchecked, puts a lot of pressure on the country’s housing and healthcare facilities.

The number of approved study permits for 2025 will be revealed by the end of this year.


In order to implement this cap effectively, the immigration department plans to allocate a portion of the limit to each province and territory. These regions will then distribute the permits among their designated universities. Also, from now on, the study permit application process will now require an attestation letter from a Canadian province or territory confirming their capacity to accommodate the incoming students. All provinces have until March 31 to establish the process for issuing these letters.

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It is important to note that this new policy is not applicable for students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees, as well as those in elementary and secondary education. Also, students who currently hold study permits are exempt from the cap.



Quick fact: A Canada student visa and study permit may seem similar but are different. A Canadian student visa will allow the visa holder to enter Canada as an international student. This visa is not for stay and study. A study permit allows the holder to study in the country.

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In addition to the cap, Canada has introduced other measures. Institutions employing a private-public model will no longer allow their students to obtain a postgraduate work permit upon graduation.


In related news, open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students enrolled in master's and doctoral programs.