The Easiest Solution to Improve Canada’s International Student Program
Commentary
The acknowledgment that Canada’s international student program faces significant issues is recognized across different political ideologies—it has now become a consensus embraced by both parties. By implementing some rigorous reforms, the program can be rescued and reshaped to benefit both Canadians and foreign students alike.
The initial imposition of a hard cap on international student enrollment by the federal government in January 2024 was a necessary temporary measure to curb the rapid influx of students, providing relief to Canada’s housing, social services, and healthcare systems. However, the need for a cap in itself highlights a fundamental structural flaw in the program: Many applicants view it as an avenue to work and eventually secure permanent residency.
To alleviate the strain exerted on Canada’s infrastructure due to the current influx of nearly half a million international students annually, a reasonable policy objective would be to significantly reduce this volume. Interestingly, the reforms required to achieve a substantial reduction in numbers would also establish a rules-based program that prioritizes the national interest and serves it effectively.
Imagine an international student program that benefits Canada by welcoming a limited number of foreign students who dedicate themselves to their studies, enrich cultural exchange in our universities, and upon graduation return to their home countries equipped with a genuine affinity for Canada and the skills necessary to contribute positively to their nations. If these students meet carefully defined selection criteria that align with Canada’s interests, they can later apply to become permanent residents, ensuring that they make a meaningful contribution to Canada. Achieving this is possible—all it requires is political determination.
An analysis of any immigration program should consider the message it conveys to applicants. Canada’s international student program allows students to work up to 24 hours a week, with the option to hold multiple jobs within those hours. Upon graduation, many international students are eligible to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) that can be valid for up to three years. In 2022, there were over 132,000 new PGWP holders in Canada.
These lenient regulations send a clear signal to international students: You can come to Canada to work, with studies taking a back seat. To convey a different message, two straightforward policy adjustments can be made: Prohibit international students from working off-campus and eliminate post-graduation work permits.
This change would serve as a strong deterrent for individuals aiming to exploit our international student program as a pathway to work, attracting only those students who are fully committed to their education.
In addition to the work-related incentive, another counterproductive message conveyed by Canada’s international student program is that it can serve as a direct route to citizenship.
Canada imposes a physical residency requirement on immigrants. Under current regulations, foreign nationals must reside on Canadian soil for 1,095 days within a five-year period before being eligible to apply for citizenship. This requirement applies not only to permanent residents seeking citizenship but also to temporary residents, including students. Each day spent residing in Canada as a student counts as half a day toward fulfilling the physical residency obligation—up to a maximum of 365 days.
According to a report from Statistics Canada in 2021, three out of ten first-time international students obtained permanent residency within a decade, and six out of ten who worked either before or after graduation achieved permanent residency.
For many, a study visa serves as a stepping stone to Canadian citizenship—the educational aspect is merely a means to an end. Canada could change this trend by excluding time spent as a foreign student from the calculation of the physical residency requirement for citizenship. This policy has been debated previously. In 2015, the Conservative government excluded student time from the residency calculation, but this decision was later reversed in 2016 by the newly elected Liberal government.
This represents a straightforward approach to reforming the international student program: Eliminate the right to work off-campus and post-graduation, and cease counting time spent as a foreign student toward the physical residency requirement for citizenship. By refraining from treating international students as future workers or citizens by default, Canada can attract individuals who view themselves primarily as students committed to their educational pursuits.
Transitioning the international student visa into a strictly temporary visa focused solely on education would likely result in a significant decrease in the total number of foreign students. While colleges and universities would need to adjust to reduced tuition revenue, Canada would attract students enthusiastic about learning and subsequently returning their acquired skills and knowledge to their home countries.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
