Canada is set to further reduce the number of study permits granted to foreign students and tighten the eligibility for work permits to lower the number of temporary residents in the country, the government announced on Wednesday.
This move comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government, currently lagging in public opinion polls and following a major by-election loss, aims to address the rising numbers of temporary residents, including international students and foreign workers.
With a federal election due by October 2025, the issue has become a significant political debate in Canada. The newly announced changes would lower the number of international study permits to 437,000 by 2025, down from the 509,390 issued in 2023. By the first seven months of 2024, 175,920 permits had already been granted. Additionally, the reforms would restrict work permit eligibility for spouses of certain students and temporary foreign workers.