CIMM – International Students – February 28, 2024

Key Facts and Figures

Study Permit Applications

• The volume of study permit applications have increased dramatically in the last five years.
• In 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) received over 914,000 new study permit applications (excluding extensions). Compared to that number in 2022 – 713,000 new permits – this represents a 28% increase just in the past year.
• Most new study permits are processed within 66 days, as of January 31, 2024. New study permit applications under the Student Direct Stream are processed within 34 days as of January 31, 2024.
• The measures announced on January 22, including a cap on study permit intake, aim to curb the rapid increases in the number of international students arriving in Canada.

Post-Graduate Work Permits

• Similarly, in the last five years, the number of post-graduation work permit (PGWP) holders has more than doubled. On December 31, 2023, there were over 396,000 individuals who held a PGWP compared to 179,000 in 2019 (i.e. 121% increase).
• More than half of all PGWP holders in Canada are working in Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal. Of the individuals who held a PGWP on December 31, 2023, 39% indicated to IRCC that they were destined to Toronto, 12% to Vancouver, and 8% to Montreal.

Key Messages

• The volume of international students coming to Canada has significantly increased in the past five years.
• IRCC is taking action to curb volumes, ensure that international students have a positive experience here, and keep Canada’s competitive edge in recruiting top talent.
• IRCC has already introduced a number of measures through the International Student Program review.
• To reduce volumes and mitigate incidence of fraud, the Department introduced mandatory letter of acceptance verification to all post-secondary institutions in December 2023 and increased the minimum funds requirement in January 2024 so that students are financially better prepared for life in Canada.
• IRCC is also looking to adopt a Recognized Institutions Framework to attract and retain top international talent – with redacted related to housing.
• Finally, on January 22, IRCC implemented a two-year cap on study permit applications, with some exceptions. This measure is meant to slow the growth of the program to ensure that international students are adequately supported while they are here.

Supplementary Information

• From December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023, the number of international students in Canada grew by over 200,000, the largest one-year increase in the program’s history.
• Over the past five years, the number of study permit applications received by IRCC per year has more than doubled. In 2019, IRCC received 425,000 new study permit applications (excluding extensions) compared to 914,000 in 2023.