Canada has announced a limit on the admission of international students into the country.

The country’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller while addressing the Liberal cabinet retreat outlined various restrictions aimed at reducing intake by 35% over the next two years. He clarified that these temporary measures will be effective for two years.

“To maintain a sustainable level of temporary residence in Canada and to prevent further growth in the number of international students in 2024, we are implementing a national application intake cap for the next two years”, Miller stated.

For 2024, the cap is expected to result in approximately 364,000 approved study permits, reflecting a 35% decrease from 2023. Notably, the cap exempts graduate-level students, including master’s and doctoral candidates. Individuals seeking study permit applications at elementary and secondary school levels will also be exempt.

Effective immediately, prospective students applying for a Canadian study permit must provide an attestation letter from the relevant province or territory. The federal government has mandated each province and territory to establish a process for issuing attestation letters.

Miller emphasized that the specific labour needs of each province and territory would be considered during this process.