As part of its latest immigration policies, Canada has implemented a ban on the automatic conversion of study permits into permanent residency for international students
Under the new regulation, international students will be required to return to their home countries once their study visas expire. This marks the end of the practice that allowed non-citizens on study permits to transition directly to permanent residency.
The policy change was announced by Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, during an interview on Tuesday.
In the same interview, Miller also disclosed that Canada will be ending the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program and suspending asylum claims linked to these immigration pathways.
The new policies come in response to recent protests by international students across Canada, who have called for a more streamlined process for transitioning from study permits to permanent residency or for an extension of their stay.
Addressing these demands, Miller said, “When people come here and decide to be students, there are no guarantees of permanent residency. Some students will have to make a difficult decision about whether they stay or leave.”
Miller also emphasized that work permits should align with Canada’s labor market needs, and stated that the government would not grant blanket extensions to all students.
Additionally, Miller revealed that permanent residency quotas have been reduced by over 20% to help address Canada’s aging population and labor shortages, while also preventing strain on housing and public services.
“We had to reduce permanent residency by just over 20% to manage these issues and ensure the country’s long-term needs are met,” he explained.
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