How Canada’s inconsistent immigration rules are affecting international students
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The official mandate of Canada’s Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) department is to build “a stronger Canada through immigration programs, citizenship services, refugee protection and issuing Canadian travel documents.”
But our research shows how IRCC has become a powerful force in Canadian education policy – an area that is the responsibility of provinces and territories.
Since the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act was enacted in 2002 and the International Student Program was developed, IRCC has been responsible for overseeing international students who come to Canada.
Since 2022, however, IRCC’s role in higher education policy has become more marked as it increasingly uses regulations to manage and adjust the International Student Program. A significant policy change occurred in January 2024 when the federal government imposed an unprecedented cap on international student enrolments.
Intensifying geopolitical events in recent years are directly impacting IRCC. New wars and conflicts, along with ongoing democratic backsliding and political/social turmoil around the world, have had immediate consequences for higher education in Canada.
To better understand IRCC’s policymaking on international students, shaped by both domestic priorities and global geopolitical pressures, we analysed policy announcements by IRCC between January 2022 and July 2025 on Canada’s global commitments.
Although public-facing announcements appear technical and neutral, we found that IRCC’s statements on different geopolitical issues were inconsistent, reinforcing inequalities in the governance of international students...