Immigration rules are hurting both Canada and international students

I came to Canada despite a haze of uncertainties. Leaving the comforts and familiarity of what I know wasn’t easy, but I kept running into walls when contemplating opportunities at home. I was reminded that if I am not seeing the desired results, it is time for a change. There is never a perfect time for change, however. After deciding to pursue international post-graduate studies, I accepted that the next three years would come without guarantees. But now, that initial haze has whipped into a whirlwind as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) seems to have forgotten that its relationship with international students is mutually beneficial.

New international students’ immigration rules

In January 2024, when I was preparing to make the final push to apply for my study permit, the government announced its immigration update for international students, stating that new rules would balance community needs with immigration levels while limiting the strain on Canada’s health care, housing and social services. 

To achieve this objective, IRCC:

• Capped international student study permits for two years, which resulted in a 35 per cent decrease compared to 2024; there was a further reduction of the cap by 10 per cent in 2025
• Doubled the “cost-of-living requirements,” which meant students now had to prove they had $20,645 in the bank, from $10,000
• Implemented new rules determining which programs are eligible for the post-graduate work permit
• Capped master’s and doctoral study levels
• Removed open work permits for partners of all undergraduate and some master’s students
• Ended post-study work permit eligibility for students enrolled in college programs delivered through private-public partnerships

The latest regulations have negative implications, impacting the dreams of international students and Canada’s future. This impact has been gradual and far-reaching; the study permit approvals fell below the cap, international student applications have decreased, and colleges are cutting programs and staff and closing campuses.

The negative impacts of the new immigration rules on Canada

I had been applying for studies in Canada for about five years before being accepted to a post-graduate program. Initially, my goal was to enter directly into a master’s program. When I engaged the services of an immigration representative, I was informed that post-secondary colleges were established as the typical education point of entry for international students. With the new immigration rules in place, I wondered what steps post-graduate institutions that have become so dependent on international students like me would take to secure their income streams.

At first, many institutions maintained their flowery outlook despite the writing on the wall. “We do not see any decline in our international student intake and total number of international students over the coming year,” a Camosum spokesperson said in March 2024. But a few months later, in September, that position had shifted with Camosun stating, “that change is the post-graduate work permit requirements being restricted to programs in college environments. And that, I think, will have significant impacts for the most part moving forward.” This change mandates that international students can only enrol in programs from a pre-approved list if they are to be eligible for the post-graduate work permit. This would disqualify several programs offered at colleges unless the domestic student population would fill the gap. They haven’t. In October 2024, Camosum reported a 19 per cent decrease in student enrolments. Half of Red Deer Polytechnic’s programs do not meet the study requirements. Those scenarios are from only two of Canada’s 1,446 designated learning institutions.

With the decrease in international student enrolment, colleges and universities are preparing to lose money, severely impacting operations. In Ontario alone, 10 universities are projecting losses of $600 million for the 2024-25 academic school year, and since November 2024, at least two colleges have closed campuses. Colleges and universities across the country are cutting programs and staff. Since implementing the new regulations, Georgian College has cut 22% of its workforce ─ laying off 45 people and eliminating jobs for nearly 230.  

Canada’s small business economy and labour force have also been negatively impacted. In Windsor, small business owners have been reporting a drop in sales, which the international student population would have bolstered. One food delivery business has already reported a 30 per cent decrease in deliveries.  Similar outcomes have been seen in Alberta and British Columbia, where the decline in the international student population has hurt small businesses and local communities. The labour priorities of provincial and federal do not always align. With postgraduate work permits targeted to support federal labour demand, graduates will not be able to support the needs of the provincial labour market.

The negative impacts of the new immigration rules on international students

I have a classmate who drives two hours from London to St. Thomas to work overnight shifts at McDonald’s, only possible because he has access to his sister’s car. Despite this gruelling schedule, he has maintained honour student status for the past two years. This speaks to his unwavering commitment on all fronts—making the best of opportunities while working around significant obstacles. IRCC, however, has repositioned the hopes, dreams, aspirations, and ambitions of international students as burdens on Canada’s existing systems and social services. As a result, many prospective students are shelving their study abroad plans or looking to other attractive destinations. The experience has become a roller coaster and a constant uphill climb for international students already in Canada.

After completing their programs, international students’ study options have now been significantly limited if they desire to work in Canada. When I was coming to Canada, an acquaintance advised me to study Supply Chain Management because it was a high-demand skill. However, considering my experience is in communications and multimedia production, with no experience in logistics and limited knowledge in procurement, I pursued Digital Communication Management instead. Fortunately, this program was later included in the designated programs eligible for the post-graduate work permit. For other international students, the results might not be as favourable. Their educational choices are now dictated and limited by these new regulations, forcing them to prioritize immigration eligibility over their actual interests and career backgrounds.

The negative impacts on international students’ mental health and well-being cannot be underestimated. How can students be expected to focus and do well in their studies if they are unsure of which direction the IRCC winds will blow each day? This uncertainty creates a weight that shadows every aspect of their academic journey. International students already face the significant challenges of adapting to a new culture, language barriers, and academic systems while being thousands of miles from their support networks. Adding the constant anxiety of shifting immigration policies creates an unbearable mental load. Many students report symptoms of chronic stress, anxiety, and depression as they attempt to plan their futures on shifting sands. Limited opportunities for self-support have also been a barrier for international students, as employment is not as robust.

The way forward for immigration rules

No storm lasts forever, and I’ve come too far to look back or to be dismayed or deterred by IRCC regulations. IRCC has its objective, and so do I. As international students, we know what we have left behind, and despite the uncertainties, the journey will be worth the sacrifice. So, we continue to build, dream, be resilient, and remain undefeated.  

It would have been commendable if educational institutions had demonstrated the same commitment and determination to stand up for international students. We need an honest discussion about international students’ substantial contributions to Canada’s educational infrastructure and economy. The time has come to cease the denials that international students do not sustain the former.

“Canada has been able to pretend we’ve got a world-class university system for the last 15 years. It’s been the international students that have kept it all afloat,” said Alex Usher, president of Higher Education Strategy Associates, in an interview with CBC News.

Equally, it should not be denied that loopholes must be plugged in, but there is no guarantee that these sweeping immigration measures will or are doing that. What is clear is that IRCC is “throwing the baby out with the bath water.”

This recognition and admission can only lead to united advocacy for inclusive policies supporting international students, and post-graduate educational institutions, and Canada.