Dear Mr Brown,

I hear that Canada will be freezing immigration for the next three years, but can I still study there during this time.

-BEV

Dear BEV:

I have responded to queries about the recent changes that were announced regarding Canadian immigration matter. However, due to the many changes and the fact that I have received several inquiries that were similar, I wanted to ensure that you have a clear understanding.

Please note that the announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was about a three-year cut in the number of immigrants entering Canada rather than a three-year freeze.

Canada will reduce the number of new permanent residents from 500,000 to 395,000 in 2025 and 380,000 in 2026. A target of 365,000 has been set for 2027.

The plan’s targets aim to pause population growth in the short term to achieve well-managed, sustainable growth in the long term. The plan’s reduced targets include temporary residents, such as international students and foreign workers already in Canada who are applying to become permanent residents.

During the pandemic, there were policies in place to relax rules for temporary residents to fill the labour shortages.

Canada also announced a two-year cap on international student permits and said it would also stop giving work permits to some students after graduation.

There is also a cap to reduce temporary residents to five per cent of the total population over the next three years, from 6.2 per cent in 2023.

Please visit JAMAICA2CANADA.COM for additional information on Canadian Work Permits, Study Permits, Visas, International Student Loan, Permanent Residence and/or Appeals, etc.

Antonn Brown is a licensed Canadian employment recruiter, accredited Canadian education agent and immigration counsel of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM—a Canadian immigration firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments to documents.jamaica2canada@gmail.com