New statistics from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveal a notable rise in the number of international students gaining permanent residency in Canada. In 2005, 8,565 former international students were granted permanent residency, a figure that significantly increased to 19,330 in the first three quarters of 2023.
Ontario Leads the Way in International Student Transition
Throughout this period, Ontario retained its status as the province admitting the highest number of permanent residents with prior study permits. For instance, in 2015, Ontario welcomed 2,725 permanent residents with a study permit history, surpassing Alberta by 1,025 admissions. By 2023, Ontario made a substantial leap, admitting a total of 6,760 former international students as permanent residents.
Changing Rankings for Other Provinces
The rankings for other provinces in terms of study permit to permanent residency transitions shifted over the years. In 2015, the sequence was Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, and British Columbia. However, by 2023 Q3, British Columbia had moved up to second place with 4,195 permanent residents with study permits, followed by Quebec (2,115) in third place and Alberta (1,900) in fourth place. This demonstrates Alberta’s relatively modest growth, with only 200 more permanent resident admissions with former study permits than in 2015.
Fluctuations and Long-Term Growth
While the long-term trend is characterized by steady growth in the number of international students obtaining permanent residency in Canada, short-term statistics exhibit an uneven pattern with fluctuations. For example, in 2015, 8,565 international students became permanent residents, followed by a slight drop to 8,270 the next year. Subsequently, there was growth in 2017, 2018, and 2019, but the advent of COVID-19 in 2020 led to stricter immigration policies, resulting in a decline to 7,750 permanent resident admissions for study permit holders.
However, in the following year, there was an exceptional surge in the number of international students receiving permanent residency. A total of 22,675 international students gained permanent residency in Canada. This figure surpassed admissions in 2022 (19,735) and, thus far, 2023 (19,330).
Senate Warning
It’s essential to note that these increasing numbers do not guarantee permanent residence for all international students in Canada. A Senate report titled “Strengthening the Integrity of Canada’s International Student Program” emphasized the inadequacy of available permanent residency spots to accommodate the growing number of international students.
The report stressed the importance of maintaining a competitive permanent residency process to select the most qualified international students. It also cautioned against foreign education consultants who may mislead students regarding their chances of gaining permanent residency and citizenship.
Moreover, the report highlighted issues such as students attending colleges that aren’t designated learning institutions (DLIs), rendering them ineligible for post-graduation work permits (PGWPs). The report revealed that international students often rely on agents who might not be aware of these intricacies.
The report called on the Canadian government to be more transparent about the highly competitive nature of the permanent residence application process.
According to IRCC projections, the number of foreign students applying to study in Canada is expected to increase to 1.4 million by 2027. In 2023, it’s estimated that 900,000 students will choose to study in Canada.