Canada’s processing of new study permits has decreased significantly since the government implemented new policies to curb the influx of international students.
These policies, introduced in response to concerns about the quality of education and the strain on resources, have led to a significant decrease in the number of study permits being processed.
The sharp drop is attributed to a notable decrease in applications from Indian students and a rising overall refusal rate for study permits.
Key Takeaways:
1. Significant Decrease in Study Permits: The number of study permits processed has significantly decreased since Canada implemented new policies to curb the influx of international students.
2. Impact on Indian Students: A notable decrease in applications from Indian students and a higher refusal rate have contributed to the sharp drop in study permits.
3. New Policy Requirements: Introducing a provincial attestation letter and updated financial requirements have led to delays and increased refusal rates.
4. Approval Rate Decline: The approval rate for study permits has dropped to 50%, significantly lower than in previous years.
5. Rising Demand from Africa: Student demand from African countries like Ghana and Nigeria has increased, but approval rates for these countries have declined.
6. Impact on Enrollment: The new policies and increased processing times have led to some colleges cancelling classes and laying off instructors due to decreased enrollment.
7. Economic Implications: The decline in international student enrollment could lead to significant revenue loss for Canada, which heavily relies on the economic contribution of international students.
8. Post-Graduation Work Permit Changes: Potential changes to post-graduation work permit rules could further impact international student enrollment and their ability to work in Canada after graduation.
9. Processing Time Increase: The average processing time for study permits has increased from eight weeks to 15 weeks, contributing to application backlogs and delays.
10. Future Enrollment Concerns: Uncertainty surrounding the application process may deter prospective students, potentially leading to a further decline in international student enrollment in 2025 and beyond.
According to recent immigration data, this steep decline may prevent Canada from reaching its already reduced 2024 target for study permit approvals.
This situation poses significant challenges for international students, who now face more stringent approval processes, which could potentially impact their educational and career aspirations.
Analyzing first-quarter data from the Immigration Department reveals these trends, highlighting the impact of recent policy changes.
According to an insight report released by ApplyBoard, an online marketplace for learning institutions and international students, the Canadian international education landscape has changed considerably in the past six months. The data now reflects the effects of these updated policies.
Starting in January, Ottawa introduced several measures to reduce the number of international students. It aims to decrease new study permits by 28 percent to 291,914 from last year’s 404,668. To meet this target, immigration officials must process 552,095 applications based on a projected 40 percent refusal rate.
Study permit processing was paused for weeks after Immigration Minister Marc Miller introduced a new requirement for a provincial attestation letter in applications.
This letter, a declaration from the province that the student’s chosen program aligns with their educational and career goals, was introduced to ensure that international students make informed choices about their education. Provinces needed time to develop the infrastructure to issue these documents, leading to delays.
Between January and April, the Immigration Department processed over 152,000 study permits, with 76,000 approved. The approval rate was 50 percent, eight percentage points lower than the 2023 average and five points lower than the 2022 average of 55 percent.
Student demand increased from 12 of the 17 African source countries compared to the same period in 2023. This included students from Ghana, Nigeria, Algeria, Guinea, and Cameroon. However, two-thirds of all international student source countries experienced lower approval rates in 2024 compared to the entire year of 2023.
Ghanaian and Nigerian students, the second and third most significant sources of students this year, had approval rates of 32 percent and 16 percent, respectively, down from 44 percent and 32 percent the previous year.
Indian students, who still accounted for about a third of all study permits processed and 55 percent of all approvals during this period, saw a significant drop in March.
Only about 4,000 permits were processed for Indian students, a historically low number. Meti Basiri, co-founder and CEO of ApplyBoard, noted that student loans are becoming harder to secure in India, contributing to the decline.
Basiri expressed skepticism that Canada would only meet its target if significant changes were made, predicting a 10 to 15 percent shortfall. According to ApplyBoard’s report, more than 90 percent of study permits processed for Indian applicants in 2023 were for now-capped programs such as college diplomas and university undergraduate degrees. Only students from Nepal and the Philippines had a higher proportion.
The higher overall refusal rate is attributed to students submitting applications without the required provincial attestation letters and outdated financial information due to the new proof-of-finances requirement, which doubled to $20,000 in January, according to a student visa immigration consultant. “This made many applications ineligible,” said Sumit Kumar Sharma
In 2024, the average study permit processing time has steadily increased from eight weeks at the beginning of the year to 15 weeks in May. Basiri suggested that some students delayed their applications after the rule changes, leading to a backlog and longer processing times.
Charanjit Kaur, a student visa advisor, says some colleges have already started cancelling classes and firing part-time instructors. A steeper enrollment decline could have dire economic repercussions, potentially leading to a significant revenue loss for the country.
In 2022, international students’ annual expenditures, including spending by their visiting families and friends, contributed $30.9 billion or 1.2 percent to Canada’s GDP.
Miller has indicated that he is considering changes to the post-graduation work permit rules, which have been blamed for the rapid growth in international student enrollment.
These changes, if implemented, could significantly impact international students’ ability to work in Canada after graduation, potentially leading to a decrease in international student enrollment.
These changes aim to better align international students’ education with Canada’s labour market needs, but their potential impact on international student enrollment is a concern.
Basiri warned that the uncertainty surrounding the study permit application process might delay prospective students’ plans to study in Canada.
The full impact on enrollment will likely be felt in the winter semester of 2025. Many schools already had a pipeline of applicants for the fall, as college admission and visa processes can take a year to complete.
This uncertainty could disrupt these plans, potentially decreasing international student enrollment in the coming years.
“January 2025 could be incredibly concerning for most public post-secondary institutions in Canada,” Basiri said.
These changes reflect a significant shift in Canada’s approach to international education, with potential long-term implications for the country’s educational institutions and economy.
