On April 5, 2024, the Canadian Department of Immigration issued a document on its official website, announcing the allocation of study permits for international students in various provinces and regions in 2024 - a total of 552,095 study permit applications for international students provided to colleges and undergraduates this year, and 291,914 study permits are expected to be approved, a decrease of 28% compared with the approved study permits in 2023.
The 2024 student visa quota and change range of each province and region are as follows (the following data is only for undergraduate and professional visa visas affected by the student visa quota policy):
● Alberta: 40,984 study permits are subject to a maximum of 40,984 study permits, and 24,537 study permits are expected to be approved, an increase of 10% over the approved study permits in 2023.
● British Columbia: 83,000 study permits are subject to a maximum of 49,800 student visas are expected to be approved, a 18% decrease from the number of student visas approved in 2023.
● Manitobana: 18,652 study permits are capped and 9,140 are expected to be approved, a 10% decrease from the 2023 approved study permits.
● New Brunswick: 14,651 study permits are subject to a maximum of 14,651 study permits, and 5,567 study permits are expected to be approved, a 10% decrease from the 2023 study permit approval.
● Newfoundland and Labrador: 3,153 study permits are subject to a maximum of 1,419 study permits, an increase of 10% over the 2023 approved study permits.
● Northwest China: 333 student visas will be processed and 200 will be approved, an increase of 4,900% over the approved student visas in 2023.
● Nova Scotia: 20,378 study permits are capped and 7,744 are expected to be approved, a 10% decrease from 2023.
● Nunavut: 333 study permits are subject to a maximum of 200 student visas, an increase of 6,567% over 2023.
● Ontario: 235,000 study permits are subject to a maximum of 235,000 student visas, and 141,000 student visas are expected to be approved, a 41% decrease from the number of student visas approved in 2023.
● Prince Edward Island: 2,312 study permits are subject to a maximum of 2,212 study permits, and 1,202 study permits are expected to be approved, a 10% decrease from the 2023 study permit approved.
● Quebec: 117,917 student visas are subject to a maximum quota of 117,917 and 43,629 student visas are expected to be approved, an increase of 10% over the 2023 approved study permits.
● Saskatchewan: 15,054 study permits are capped and 7,226 study permits are expected to be approved, an increase of 10% over the 2023 study permit approval.
● Yukon: 417 student visas are subject to a maximum of 417 student visas, and 250 student visas are expected to be approved, an increase of 205% over the approved student visas in 2023.
Immigration Canada said that all study permit quotas are distributed according to the proportion of the population of each province, and some provinces will get some compensation places, but in general, the original popular provinces for studying abroad have lost the most quotas, such as Ontario slashed by 41% and B.C. reduced by 18%.
Canada's Minister of Immigration Marc Miller also said that the Department of Immigration will pay close attention to the two-year study permit quota system, and if the current restrictions on the number of undergraduate and junior college international students cannot solve the housing problem, Canada will further limit the number of international students, such as primary and secondary school students and master's and doctoral students.
While the federal government has repeatedly declared the importance of immigration and insisted on bringing in 485,000 new permanent residents by 2024, for temporary residents, there are clear restrictions that will limit entry into Canada in addition to study permits, with the goal of reducing the number of temporary residents to 5% of Canada's population over the next three years.
Based on a population of 40 million, it is to reduce the number of temporary residents by more than 400,000. Temporary residents are people who are studying, working, and living in Canada with other temporary visas such as work permits, study permits, and refugee visas. Currently, 42% of "temporary residents" are international students, 9% are temporary foreign workers, and 11.4% are PGWP holders.
In general, Canada will show a tightening trend of study visas in the next two years, especially for undergraduate and tertiary applicants, but there is no need to be overly anxious, just cooperate with the preparation of the required materials for the study visa, and wait for the issuance of the certification letter process, and then apply for the study permit normally. Applicants for master's and doctoral degrees are the high-level talents that Canada needs, but there are relatively few universities in Canada that offer master's and doctoral degrees, and the competition will become more intense.
In addition to studying abroad, Canada is also constantly adjusting its immigration policy, and in 2024, Canada's immigration focus will no longer be limited to the number of new immigrants, but more emphasis will be placed on precise invitation and the introduction of high-end talents, mainly reflected in language proficiency and local work skills required. So how can international students who are interested in immigrating improve their competitiveness?
1. Improve language skills
According to the current situation of the lottery scores in British Columbia, Ontario and EE, the language score CLB7 (IELTS 4 6) has become the minimum threshold.
If you take the EE channel, language is a "sharp weapon", and the popular killer line in the immigration and study circle - IELTS "8777" (8 points for listening, 7 points for speaking, reading and writing), then the applicant's language level will be CLB9. CLB9 can add 31 points to each item, that is, 31*4=124 points! When the applicant's language score reaches CLB9, 25 points can be added if the applicant has a bachelor's degree, and 50 points can be added if the applicant has a double degree or a master's degree.
In addition, from January next year, in addition to the medical channel, the language requirements of the entire BCPNP will be comprehensively improved. Among them, the language requirement for the new graduate programme will be at least CLB8. Converted to IELTS, it is 6.5 in reading/writing/speaking and 7.5 in listening!
In addition to English, the French category has also become a new hot spot for Canadian immigration since the EE reform.
Applicants with French language proficiency can not only get extra points by improving their French skills, but also have the opportunity to get an EE-directed invitation to the French category, which will speed up the immigration process.
For immigration applicants, bilingualism in English and French not only increases employment competitiveness, but also helps to integrate into Canadian society and culture more quickly, with more options.
2. Obtain LMIA
EE Express Entry has a consistently high invitation score, with the latest invitation score of 549 across all categories. This is because, since the implementation of the targeted invitation, 60% of the ITA has been allocated to candidates for targeted occupations:
● 28% to 31% will be awarded to candidates with work experience in STEM occupations;
● 11 to 15 per cent for candidates with French language proficiency;
● 9-12% is paid to those with experience in healthcare occupations;
● 3-4% to tradespeople such as carpenters, plumbers and contractors;
● 1% to candidates in the transportation sector;
● 1% will be awarded to candidates in the agriculture and agro-food sectors.
As a result, EE leaves only about 40% of the space for applicants in all categories, resulting in a surge in invitation scores, and a score of more than 500 has become the new normal. If you want to improve your competitiveness in the EE, you can get at least 50 extra points for getting an LMIA, making it easier to go ashore.
3. Position
Talent in STEM fields is in the spotlight in the 2024 immigration wave. STEM majors provide more employment opportunities for immigration applicants, and the Canadian government has recently increased its focus on STEM fields. Applicants with a STEM degree or certificate are more likely to receive priority from the Government of Canada to accelerate the acquisition of permanent resident status. Jobs in STEM fields have always been at the top of the income charts, providing good job security for newcomers.
It can also be seen from the provincial nomination of B.C. that in the past, students who were lucky enough to enter a designated institution in B.C. to study a master's degree in science and engineering meant that they would be granted permanent residence upon graduation, but the immigration department found that many science and engineering graduates did not pursue STEM-related jobs, which obviously did not meet the needs of the labor market. Therefore, the B.C. Master's Pathway has added a requirement of "at least one year of skill-based full-time job offer".
4. Improve academic qualifications
If you take the EE channel, the higher the academic qualification, the higher the score, and the double degree is higher than the single academic qualification. For example, you can get 120 points for a bachelor's degree, while you can get 135 points for a master's degree. If you hold a three-year or more qualification, you can add points by taking a second qualification, and the second qualifying in Canada can add up to a maximum of 32 points in EE.
Not only that, there are also special channels for master's and doctoral degrees in various provinces, and the more mainstream ones are Ontario and British Columbia.
5. Choose niche remote areas
As competition for immigrants from popular provinces intensifies, some niche areas are emerging as new popular options.
For example, NS Province, Northern Town Pilot and other places have attracted many applicants with their relaxed conditions, low thresholds, fast approval and community support.
Many of these projects in remote areas have received government support, such as the RNIP, which has been very successful in bringing talent to remote areas after years of piloting, and this year became a permanent project.
6. Carry out immigration planning in advance
It's crucial to chart your own immigration path.
Applicants can choose the province and immigration program that suits them according to their specific conditions, needs, professional background and career development plan, as well as current policies.
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