Explained: Canada's Cap On New Study Permits & How It Will Impact Indian Students

On Monday, Canada announced their plan to put a cap on the number of new study permits issued to international students.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released the information, according to which there is a temporary cap on the issuance of study visas for international students.

With Indian students being the largest group among the international student population in Canada (37 per cent last year), this decision is set to impact them the most.

BCCL

What is the Canada new study permit policy?

The cap on new study permits issued will be a temporary, two-year cap.

The cap will be established at approximately 364,000 study permits, potentially resulting in a 35 percent overall decrease in new study visas in 2024.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller said that some provinces could face even steeper reductions.

However, the limit on permits will not apply to students in graduate-level programmes, including master¡¯s or doctoral studies. Further, study permit applications at the elementary and secondary school levels also will not be affected.

Why has Canada introduced a cap on study permits?

"These measures are to ensure that as future students arrive in Canada, they receive the quality of education that they signed up for and the hope that they were provided in their home countries. It would be a disservice to welcome international students to Canada knowing that now all of them are getting the resources they need to succeed in Canada," Miller said.

The number of international students holding study permits in Canada crossed one million for the first time last year.

Miller added, "Allowing bad actors to continue their operations would be a disservice to all of the good institutions who pride themselves on providing a top-tier academic experience."

edroots

The surge in international students has put a strain on housing, healthcare, and other services in Canada, which is a major reason behind the cap.

Applicants for study permits are required to provide a provincial attestation with their study permit application, effective immediately.

Earlier, reports stated that while the Canadian government processed almost 146,000 new study permit applications for Indian nationals from July to October in 2022 but across the same period in 2023, it processed fewer than 87,000.

What is a study permit in Canada?

BCCL

The study permit is a document issued by the Canadian government that allows foreign nationals to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada.

Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada.

For more information on exams, results and careers, please visit Indiatimes Education.