OLLO – French-Speaking Students from Africa – February 6, 2023

Key Messages

IRCC has made efforts to attract eligible students in Africa and therefore increase the acceptance rates, by working with outreach partners as well as at public events. IRCC offices located in Africa participate in events such as EduCanada and EduQuebec and regularly host webinars to explain the study permit application process and requirements. Efforts also include providing cultural training to decision makers on the opportunities that African countries present, especially for francophone migration.
Volumes of study permit applications from African residents have significantly grown within recent years. Compared to 2021, intake of study permit applications as of December 2022 is up 49% (up from 90K to 134K).
Study permit approval rates for applicants residing in Africa have resulted in an increase from 30% to 37% between 2021 and 2022 (as of December 31th); the increase in the approval rates for francophone students from Africa was from 27% to 35% in the same period.

IRCC is examining how program guidance could be adjusted to provide officers with more flexibility to use discretion when assessing financial resources, particularly in regions where cultural and banking norms differ significantly from Canada. However, the Department understands that international students that struggle to support themselves in Canada are at greater vulnerability. Any changes to how financial resources are assessed will be balanced against our efforts to better protect students.
IRCC has also been advancing initiatives to find and fight unconscious biases and racism in our regional offices in Africa, including these activities:
Mandatory unconscious bias training for all decision-makers and ensuring all courses include Anti-Racism and GBA+ lenses including specific modules focused on bias.
Anti-Racism and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training was delivered to managers working abroad in sessions that took place in November 2021 and May 2022.
An expanded footprint in Africa (with officers now located in Addis Ababa and Yaoundé) has helped improve our knowledge of local conditions which increases officer comfort with processing and approving applications. This expanded footprint also helps with promoting studies in Canada, and helping clients avoid immigration scams and unreliable consultants.
Overall approval rates for African students have increased from 30% in 2021 to 35% in 2022, using data available up until November 30, 2022.

In May 2022, the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) tabled a report on the differential treatment of international students. IRCC agreed either partially or in full with all of the CIMM’s recommendations.
The Department has taken concrete steps to implement the recommendations:
- Set to launch target guidelines for disaggregated data standards for diverse populations in March 2023;
- Pursuing further research on racial discrimination of Black immigrants as it relates to their immigration journey;
- Working on a Gender-based Plus analysis of Chinook and of the International Student Program; and
- Exploring the feasibility of establishing an ombudsperson office.
IRCC and Quebec have also launched a working group that will meet regularly to examine study permit applications to Quebec.