In January this year, the Canadian announced to cap the number of student visas issued per year. The objective of this measure was to combat the influx of international students. Half a year later, the first results of this measure have become visible.

Too many international students

The Canadian immigration service issued more than 400,000 new student visas in 2023. The total number of international students who were staying in Canada on a student visa (study permit) reached more than a million. This had direct effects on the Canadian economy. The high number of international students increased the scarcity in the Canadian housing market. Also, some institutions abused the Canadian visa system. There were a number of for-profit educational institutions with low admission standards. This allowed international students to get a diploma relatively easily. These students’ priority was often not their education, but to receive a long-term residency permit for Canada.

New measures are effective

The new measures that were installed to limit the arrival of international tourists have been highly effective. The Canadian authorities rejected 76,000 of the 152,000 applications that were submitted in the first months of 2024. This is a rejection of around 50%, which is up from 45% in 2022. A reason for this might be that applicants need to prove to own at least 20,000 Canadian dollars per year to be able to finance their stay. This is double the amount students had to own in the year 2023.

The processing time for student visa applications has increased significantly due to the new visa requirements. If the processing time of student visa applications and the rejection rate remain unchanged for the rest of the year, the Canadian government will probably not reach its target of 300,000 issued student visas for 2024, which means that the measures are overshooting their target.

Students as a source of income

The Canadian government’s attempt to lower the number of international students is rather noteworthy, as international students have contributed considerably to the Canadian economy. In 2023, the number of international students in Canada reached more than 1 million for the first time in history. This group of students generated a lot of tax income for the Canadian government. Also, their spending indirectly created employment opportunities for local people.

Limiting immigration

Limiting the issuance of student visas is not the only measure the Canadian authorities took to gain more control over immigration. They also tightened the visa requirements for Mexican travellers. Most Mexicans are no longer eligible for the Canada eTA.

Applying for an eTA is more straight-forward than a visa application. Applicants need to submit different types of documents for most visa applications. Additionally, they often need to schedule an appointment at a Canadian embassy or consulate in their home country. These complex procedures are not required for an eTA application. In that case, applicants only have to fill in their personal details and travel details in a digital form.