Nigerian students and workers’ permits cut as Canada tightens policy

The country’s Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, announced the changes on Wednesday, September 18, citing the need to manage high levels of immigration that are straining Canada’s housing, labour and social services markets.

“Coming to Canada is a privilege. It is not a right” Miller said at a press conference.

He also explained that Ottawa plans to issue 437,000 study permits next year, down from the 485,000 permits issued in 2024 and the more than 500,000 granted in 2023.

This change in policy is part of the Prime Minister’s actions Justin Trudeau the government’s broader strategy to reduce the number of temporary residents.

Canada’s population passed 41 million earlier this year, and concerns about housing shortages and job availability have prompted a reassessment of immigration policy.

The changes will include, among others, the introduction of restrictions on the issuance of work permits for spouses of foreign students and foreign workers, as well as tightening controls on tourist visas in order to reduce the number of false asylum applications.

Ottawa has already pledged to reduce the percentage of temporary residents in Canada from 6.8 per cent recorded in April to just five per cent.

This will likely impact many Nigerian students and workers seeking employment opportunities in Canada.

The new rules are expected to pose a major challenge for those intending to study or work in the country, especially Nigerians who make up a significant portion of the international student community in Canada.