Nigerians, Other Immigrants Face Setback As Canada Plans To Slash Student And Work Permits

Canada has announced plans to splash international student permits and tighten foreign worker regulations in 2025.

This move, announced on Wednesday, is part of a broader effort to decrease the number of temporary residents in the country.

The decision follows several recent measures aimed at addressing the record immigration levels that have pushed Canada’s population beyond 41 million earlier this year.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has pointed to the high immigration as straining the country’s housing sector, jobs market and social services.

“It is a privilege to come to Canada, not a right,” Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated during a press conference.

For 2025, Ottawa plans to issue 437,000 study permits to international students, a decrease from 485,000 this year and more than 500,000 in 2023.

The government is also introducing new restrictions on work permits for the spouses of some international students and foreign workers.

Additionally, there will be increased scrutiny before issuing travel visas to address a rise in fraudulent or rejected asylum claims.

Ottawa has already announced its intention to reduce the proportion of temporary residents to five percent of the population, down from 6.8 percent in April.