OLLO – International Student Eligibility and Vulnerability –November 4, 2024
Key Facts and Figures
In the past five years, the number of international students in Canada has nearly doubled, from 567,000 to over 1,000,000.
From December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023 alone, the number of international students in Canada grew by over 200,000, the largest annual increase in the program’s history.
Key Messages
In recent years, we have seen rapid increases in the number of international students arriving in Canada. Some institutions have significantly increased the number of international students they receive to drive revenues, and more students have been arriving in Canada without the proper supports they need to succeed. This also puts pressure on housing, healthcare and other services.
Further, we have seen the rise of nefarious actors preying on international students for financial gain. These developments have threatened the integrity of the program overall.
To help address student vulnerability, the Department is implementing measures that will better equip international students to navigate life in Canada, while also protecting them against exploitative situations.
Since December 1, 2023, postsecondary designated learning institutions (DLIs) have been required to confirm directly with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada every letter of acceptance submitted as part of a study permit application.
This new, enhanced verification process aims to protect prospective students from letter‑of‑acceptance fraud.
As of January 1, 2024, the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants has been raised so that international students are financially better prepared for life in Canada. A single applicant planning to study at a postsecondary DLI outside Quebec now needs to show that they have $20,635 (an increase from $10,000) in addition to their first year of tuition and travel expenses.
Later this fall, we intend to increase the number of hours that students may work off campus from 20 to 24 hours per week. This change will help offset the cost of living in Canada.
A cap on the number of most study permit applications, in place since January 22, 2024, is expected to ease housing pressures in certain locations, making it easier for international students to find adequate housing when they arrive.
We continue to develop the Recognized Institutions Framework (announced in October 2023), which will incentivize DLIs to improve the supports they offer to their international students, including housing-related assistance. Postsecondary DLIs that set a higher standard for services, support and outcomes for international students will benefit, for example, from the priority processing of study permits for applicants who plan to attend their school.
Taken together, these measures aim to help ensure that genuine students receive the support they require and have the resources they need for an enriching study experience in Canada, while at the same time stabilizing the overall number of students arriving and alleviating pressures on housing, healthcare and other services in Canada.
