OTTAWA — Canada’s international student program is facing serious scrutiny after a new audit revealed that the federal government does not know whether thousands of foreign students leave the country after their visas expire.
The report by Auditor General Karen Hogan highlights major gaps in oversight, raising concerns about compliance, fraud, and system integrity within Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
According to the audit, approximately 39,500 international students had their study permits expire in 2024 and were no longer authorized to remain in Canada. However, using data from the Canada Border Services Agency, officials were only able to confirm that about 40 per cent had actually left the country.
The findings point to a broader issue — Canada currently lacks a reliable system to track departures of temporary residents once their permits expire.
The audit also revealed that while more than 150,000 students were flagged for potential non-compliance in 2023 and 2024, the government had the capacity to investigate only about 4,000 cases. Of those, a significant number could not be resolved because students failed to respond to inquiries.
In another troubling discovery, the report identified 800 cases where individuals obtained study permits using fraudulent documents or misrepresentation. Despite this, most were allowed to remain in Canada, with many later receiving approvals for additional permits — and some even obtaining permanent residency.
Hogan described the lack of enforcement as a serious concern, stating that while systems to detect issues exist, authorities are not taking sufficient action on the information available.
The report comes amid a surge in international students following the COVID-19 pandemic, with numbers exceeding one million in 2023. In response, the federal government introduced caps on study permits and broader reforms aimed at restoring confidence in the system.
However, the audit notes that permit approvals in 2024 fell significantly below expectations, with fewer than 150,000 permits issued compared to a forecast of nearly 350,000 — a drop attributed to both fewer applications and lower approval rates.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the government accepts the findings and will strengthen follow-up measures in cases involving fraud or non-compliance.
She emphasized that the audit reflects only the early stages of a broader reform plan that will continue through 2027, as Ottawa aims to reduce the temporary resident population to below five per cent of Canada’s total population.
The report underscores growing concerns about accountability and enforcement in Canada’s immigration system, as policymakers face increasing pressure to balance openness with stronger regulatory oversight.