For many years, Canada has been regarded as a "land of opportunity" for international students. Successive governments have relied on these young and highly skilled immigrants to address aging populations and labor market demands.
In the early 2000s, Canada’s appeal to international students gradually increased. During former Prime Minister Harper's tenure, the number of international students doubled. Under Trudeau, pathways to permanent residency (PR) were significantly streamlined. By 2019, the number of international students in Canada reached 638,000, and by last year, this figure had surpassed one million!
These students have injected a steady stream of vitality into Canada’s economy. Universities have profited handsomely from high tuition fees, and employers have reaped substantial benefits as well. After graduation, many students work through Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP), with approximately 75% of PGWP holders successfully becoming permanent residents of Canada.
However, this "study abroad boom" has also brought various issues to light:
Even so, the efforts and contributions of international students once aligned with Canada's immigration needs. However, as the number of international students continued to surge, policy priorities began to shift.
During the pandemic, Canada allowed an 18-month extension for PGWPs to address labor shortages. In the short term, the number of work permit holders soared to nearly 400,000. However, the surge in immigration numbers brought social pressures, gradually fueling public discontent:
Housing shortage? Blame immigrants!
Healthcare system collapse? Still immigrants' fault!
Facing the pressure, the Canadian government adjusted its strategy:
This policy shift has dealt a heavy blow to many international students and graduates already striving in Canada, leaving many feeling anxious.
Twenty-six-year-old Venkata Putta lives in Canada, he recalled the day he left his hometown. It was a sweltering afternoon in southern India, and his mother was carefully packing his suitcase while reminding him to take care of himself.
At that moment, he was filled with anticipation—dreaming of pursuing a master’s degree in computer science at the University of Toronto and envisioning a future working in Canada after graduation.
However, the journey to realize his dreams has been far from smooth.
“我一直觉得加拿大是一个欢迎国际人才的地方。”文卡塔坐在宿舍里，说话间眼神略显疲惫。他刚刚结束一场实验课程，连午饭都没时间吃。但真正让他感到疲惫的，是移民政策的不断变化。
“I always thought Canada was a place that welcomed international talent,” Venkata said as he sat in his dorm room, his eyes showing signs of fatigue. He had just finished a lab session and hadn’t even had time for lunch. But what truly exhausted him was the constant change in immigration policies.
Venkata recalled when he planned to apply for a work permit after graduation, only to be told he needed to retake a language test. “I passed this similar English test two years ago,” he said helplessly, spreading his hands. “Now, because of a policy change, I have to take it again.”
Retaking the test was far from a simple repeat. First, there was the cost—each test costs 400 CAD, and as a self-funded international student, his tuition and living expenses already left him financially strained. To save money, he had to take on part-time work, further cutting into his study time.
Then there was the issue of scheduling: the test date coincided with his university final exams, forcing him into a tough balancing act. “If I focus on my finals, my language test results might suffer; if I spend too much time preparing for the language test, my academic performance could take a hit.”
Venkata is not the only international student facing this predicament. Similar complaints are common at gatherings of international students in Canada: constantly changing policies create anxiety, and an uncertain future breeds confusion.
“We chose Canada because of its quality education and immigration opportunities,” Venkata said, pausing. “But the policies make us feel like we’re always outsiders.”
Despite this, Venkata didn’t give up. He began sharing his stress with his mentors and classmates, seeking help. His mentor suggested he write about his experiences and submit the article to the university journal to give a voice to more international students.
“If we don’t speak up, policymakers may never understand what this means for us,” Venkata said. He believes immigration policies should be fairer, clearer, and more predictable, allowing dreamers like him to move forward with confidence.
But is it really all that bleak? In fact, behind these policies lies a clearer, more direct path to stay in Canada.
In the past, there was almost no language requirement for international students applying for a graduate work visa (PGWP), but as the number of international students skyrocketed, the Canadian government gradually realized that language proficiency is crucial for their employment and integration into society.
So, from November 1, 2024, undergraduate graduates will need to meet the CLB 7 and college graduates will need to meet the CLB 5 language requirement in order to apply for a work visa.
At first glance, this may sound like “bad news”. However, from another perspective, the language proficiency threshold actually makes the immigration path clearer:
1. meeting the language requirement will not only enable you to apply for a graduate work visa, but also pave the way for future permanent resident applications;
2. Improving language proficiency will make it easier for international students to find quality jobs or even enter priority industries, further enhancing the competitiveness of PR applications.
Instead of “making things difficult”, the policy change is more like a reminder that solid language skills are the key to integrating into Canadian society. This is the kind of person that Canada wants in the future!
