Canada, a destination for many international students, workers, and visitors, has begun tightening its immigration policies. The Government has introduced several policies aimed at reducing the number of migrants entering the country.
According to data from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), approximately 2.36 million temporary resident applications were rejected in 2024.
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When Canada announced its new immigration plan to reduce the number of visitors, the goal was to ease pressure on housing, infrastructure, and social services.
Additionally, the immigration plan aims to “attract some of the world’s best and brightest to study and work in Canada and help them integrate into the economy quickly,” as former Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated before leaving office.
Who Is Affected by the Rejections, and Why Is Canada Reducing Visitor Numbers?
The visa application rejections have affected three major categories:
- Visitor Visas: About 1.95 million applications were rejected in this category, a significant increase from the previous year when the rejection rate was around 40% in 2023.
- Study Permits: Around 290,317 international students who wanted to study in Canada were denied their study permits in 2024, an increase from 2023.
- Work Permits: Canada rejected approximately 115,549 applications for work permits.
All applicants under these visa categories have been affected by Canada’s new immigration policies.
Why Is Canada Cutting Down on Temporary Residents?
The IRCC has stated that the government aims to reduce the number of temporary residents by 2026. But why is Canada limiting migration, and how does this affect those dreaming of moving there?
1. Controlling Population and Resources
The number of temporary residents in Canada has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the IRCC, the rise in temporary residents has put pressure on housing, healthcare, and other public services.
To address this, the Canadian government quickly implemented new immigration policies to regulate temporary residency programs.
Many people who previously used visitor visas to overstay were shocked by the drastic rejection rates and strict questioning from immigration officers.
The study permit rejection rate has also risen to 52%, as the government is tightening the International Student Program.
Canada has reported that nearly 50,000 international students who arrived in the country for education did not attend school.
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2. Changes to the International Student Program
Canada has introduced several policies that have severely impacted international students.
To stabilize the country’s education sector, the IRCC has placed a cap on study permits for 2024 to control the number of international students.
Strict eligibility requirements and verification measures have also been introduced to prevent fraud.
International students must now provide financial proof to show they can afford their studies, and those who fail to meet this requirement are having their study permits rejected.
These new policies have discouraged many students from considering Canadian universities.
3. Preventing Overstays
Canadian immigration officials are cracking down on visa holders who overstay their visas.
Many applicants fail to provide valid reasons for traveling to Canada, leading to a rise in visa rejections.
4. Controlling Work Permits
While Canada depends on foreign workers to fill labor shortages, they are cutting down on work permits in most sectors.
Sectors such as healthcare, construction, and tourism continue to see a high number of applicants, but the government is limiting approvals.
What Does This Mean for Canada’s Economy?
According to experts, Canada’s high rejection rate for temporary residents will have both positive and negative effects.
On the positive side, reducing temporary residents will ease the housing crisis and improve healthcare services by reducing wait times.
On the negative side, Canada’s aging population and economic realities may lead to labor shortages, which could force a policy change in the future.
For now, however, applicants will continue to face strict immigration processes when trying to enter Canada.
Read Also: How to get loans to study in the USA and Canada
