Canada Caps Study Permits for Second Year to Ease Housing

Canada will cap international student entries for a second consecutive year in 2025, amid efforts to ease pressure on housing, health services, and other public ones. The country aims to issue 437,000 study permits by the end of 2025, down 10% from the previous year, according to a statement issued by the immigration ministry.

The cap was introduced in 2024 partly as a response to fear that accelerating population growth which is being primarily driven by immigration, making the housing crunch worse. The departure in March by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has promised to reduce the intake of immigrants by a third amid falling public opinion toward newcomers, was seen in his announcement this week.

Canada issued 650,000 study permits for 2023, making this the first country to exceed more than a million international students in nearly triple figures from a decade ago. Such a rapidly increased student population caused strain on many public services in addition to sky-rocketed housing costs and, in some ways, contributed to higher tuition than paid by domestic students.

In order to comply with the cap, applicants for study permits must submit a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter, which confirms that they are included under the cap. This will also be required for Master's and Post-Doctoral students in 2025.

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