Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a significant reduction in the intake of international students, cutting the target to 437,000 in 2025.

This decision, communicated via a post on X, aims to address concerns about potential abuses of the immigration system while still recognizing the economic benefits that immigration brings to Canada.

Trudeau emphasized the necessity of this measure, stating, “We’re granting 35 percent fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number’s going down by another 10 percent.” Alongside the reduction in student permits, the government will also impose limitations on work permits for spouses of master’s degree students and certain foreign workers, in a bid to streamline immigration in line with labor market needs.

The new cap is part of the federal government’s broader strategy to decrease the number of temporary residents in Canada from 6.2 percent to 5 percent over the next three years. As Canada faces challenges such as a low birth rate, the government remains focused on balancing its economic needs with effective immigration policies to sustain social services like education and healthcare.