Canada Immigration Welcomes 400,000 Plus International Students in 2021

Data was released by Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship, and Canada that shows the monthly basis of new study permits that take effect. These data are new international students who were arriving in Canada along with the foreign nationals who were already living in Canada and has already obtained a study permit. Before the 2021/2022 academic year started, the period between July and August have the most number of new study permits with more than 200,000 in total.

 

In addition to this, the IRCC yearly post a year-end data of study permits that take effect on a monthly basis. The data shows all those who have a valid study permit on December 31. The population of Canada’s international students is almost full due to the spike of new study permits that are taking effect. Nearly 622,000 international students were hosted by Canada as of December 31, 2021. In 2019, before the pandemic occurred, Canada’s international student population reaches nearly 640,000 but fell to some 530,000 foreign students in 2020.

 

Easing rules of Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) provided a major contribution to Canada’s recovery. Before the occurrence of the pandemic,  the IRCC did not count distance learning towards PGWP eligibility; however, due to the temporary policy that will take effect until August 31, 2022, international students were given a chance to go ahead with the Canadian study plans in the midst of the pandemic. International students who were able to complete their studies at any Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) ARE eligible to apply for PGWP which enables them to gain the Canadian work experience they need to be able to apply for permanent residency.

 

Below are the top 10 countries that are sources of Canada’s international students based on the number of study permit holders as of December 31, 2021:

 

1) India: 217,410

2) China: 105,265

3) France: 26,630

4) Iran: 16,900

5) Vietnam: 16,285

6) South Korea: 15,805

7) The Philippines: 15,545

8) The United States: 14,325

9) Nigeria: 13,745

10) Mexico: 11,550