Ontario's college sector is grappling with significant upheaval as tighter federal restrictions on international student visas force institutions to suspend programs and reduce services. Ottawa's decision to reduce study permit issuance to 408,000 in 2026 – down from 485,000 in 2024 – has prompted colleges to cut hundreds of programs and eliminate more than 8,000 positions. Students at institutions such as George Brown, Conestoga, and Fanshawe are experiencing reduced suppor

Following major changes to Ontario's immigration system, many newcomers pursuing permanent residency are in limbo , uncertain about their future in Canada. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, which offers a fast-track pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers and international students, is undergoing significant restructuring. The province has suspended its skilled trades stream and is reducing entry categories from nine to four, while Ottawa has cut provincial no

Ontario is adjusting its approach to international student admissions following Ottawa's decision to reduce study permit approvals by 42 percent for 2026. The province will strategically allocate its 104,780 Provincial Attestation Letters, prioritizing programs in high-demand fields such as construction, nursing, teaching, and STEM. Minister Nolan Quinn emphasized that Ontario remains committed to maintaining its reputation for world-class education while ensuring graduates

On December 18, 2025, Manitoba  held  the invitation round #260 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province invited 63 skilled workers under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas streams as part of a strategic recruitment initiative. In this round, eight invitations were extended to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. This year, the MPNP invited 7,344 candidates, and 1,351 of them

Canada's efforts to reduce temporary resident numbers are showing measurable results, with new data revealing a 53% decrease in student and worker arrivals between January and October 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The government has implemented stricter caps on international student permits and tightened eligibility for temporary foreign workers as part of its commitment to bring the temporary population below 5% of the total population by late 2027. Only 3,030 n

A group of leading Canadian economists has raised concerns about recent changes to the country's immigration framework, arguing that the 2023 introduction of category-based selection has undermined the transparency of Canada's formerly merit-driven system. The shift from the Comprehensive Ranking System to ministerial discretion has created uncertainty for prospective immigrants and may reduce the inflow of highly skilled workers. With international student applications decl

Canada's postsecondary sector faces mounting challenges as international student arrivals plunged 60% between January and September 2025 compared to the previous year, following government-imposed caps designed to ease housing pressures. The dramatic decline has triggered financial losses exceeding $140 million across just six Ontario institutions, while British Columbia anticipates annual losses surpassing $300 million. Ontario colleges have suspended 600 programs and elimi

On December 11, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published new updates to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program. The updates clarify that applicants must have held a valid study authorization within 180 days of completing their studies to remain eligible. Language and field-of-study requirements now apply equally across university and non-university programs, effective March 11, 2025. However, students who applied for their study permit befo

On December 5, 2025, Manitoba  held  the invitation round #259 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province invited 184 skilled workers under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas streams as part of a strategic recruitment initiative. In this round, 61 invitations were extended to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. This year, the MPNP invited 7,281 candidates, and 1,343 of them rec

As 2026 approaches, Canada remains the only country among the major study destinations to enforce a strict numerical limit on international student intake. While Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have introduced various policy measures to manage foreign enrolment, Canada has implemented actual caps—408,000 study permits for 2026, down 7% from 2025 targets. The policy responds to public concerns over housing shortages and healthcare capacity amid rising imm

The government of British Columbia has launched an independent review to strengthen the public post-secondary education system and ensure its long-term sustainability. Ministry of Post‑Secondary Education and Future Skills says institutions in B.C. are under severe financial pressure due to reduced international student permits, inflation and declining domestic enrolment — leading to widening gaps between revenues and expenses. The review will deliver recommendations by Marc

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has released provincial and territorial allocations for 2026 under the international student cap, setting a national target of 408,000 study permits—down 7% from 2025. The cap, which has successfully reduced the number of study permit holders from over 1 million to approximately 725,000 since its 2024 introduction, aims to lower Canada's temporary population to below 5% by 2027. As announced before, master's and doctoral students

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced policy changes on November 24, 2025, affecting study permit applications for designated learning institutions. Students moving from secondary to post-secondary education can now start classes at their new institution while awaiting permit approval, provided they applied before their current permit expired. The update also clarifies requirements for joint programs leading to a single credential. These students need only o

On November 21, 2025, Manitoba  held  the invitation round #258 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province invited 35 skilled workers under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas streams as part of a strategic recruitment initiative. In this round, five invitations were extended to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. This year, the MPNP invited 7,097 candidates, and 1,282 of them r

Statistics Canada highlighted a significant shift across Canada’s postsecondary sector, noting that international students now account for more than half of public college enrollments. The 2023/2024 academic year saw 288,798 international students attending these institutions—representing 50.4% of total enrollment—compared to just 26.7% in 2014/2015. India has emerged as the leading source country, accounting for nearly 60% of international students, while Ontario continues

Canadian universities are grappling with a significant drop in international student numbers, with 82% reporting lower undergraduate enrolments and 71% seeing decreases at the graduate level compared to last year. New international enrolments have plummeted by more than a third at both bachelor's and master's levels, driven largely by restrictive immigration policies that have made visa acquisition increasingly difficult. Meanwhile, institutions in Asia and Europe are capita

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that protected persons and their family members can now apply for study permits from within Canada, regardless of whether they have submitted permanent residency applications. This policy update, effective November 13, 2025, expands access for various groups, including students at all educational levels, work permit holders, temporary residents, refugee claimants, and families of foreign government officials. The

Cambrian College in Sudbury has suspended intake for six additional programs after an earlier pause on ten, citing a “catastrophic” decline in international student enrollment following IRCC’s new post-graduate work permit rules. The college now faces a projected $1.4 million deficit for 2025–2026, ending a decade of surpluses. Enrollment of international students dropped to 1,430 from 2,631 last year, while domestic numbers rose only slightly. Affected programs include Busi

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced measures to strengthen graduate student recruitment following recent enrolment restrictions. Starting January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral candidates at public universities will be exempt from the international student cap, eliminating the need for provincial attestation letters. Additionally, doctoral applicants will benefit from expedited 14-day study permit processing, extended to accompanying family mem

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced important updates to the provincial and territorial attestation letter framework for study permits. Effective November 4, 2025, IRCC has introduced several key clarifications affecting the 2025 allocation period, including revised protocols for PAL/TAL reuse, joint program applications, and processing criteria. The updates also address exception cases requiring Organization/Entity IDs and provide sample docume