Canada Introduces New Measures to Combat International Student Fraud

For students seeking international education, Canada has always been the first preference. However, in recent years, a host of vulnerabilities have been identified in the system. People are exploiting the system for financial gains. That is why the Canadian government has introduced a comprehensive suite of measures. These should help combat international student fraud without affecting genuine students.  If you are someone seeking educational options in Canada, understanding these new measures would assume a lot of importance.

What Sparked the New Rules?

Recently, Canada has been the victim of a storm of fraudulent activities that threaten the very integrity of the international students programme. We will check out what triggered these sweeping changes. 

Fake Letters Of Acceptance : The growing number of fake acceptance letters prompted the government to act quickly. In 2024 alone, it was reported that over 10000 fake acceptance letters were flagged by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Approximately 80% of them were students from Gujarat and Punjab in India.

Task Force Findings:The Canadian government set up a joint task force between IRCC and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in 2023. It was done to address the fraudulent letter crisis. The findings from this task force were disturbing. Among the 2000 cases examined, India accounted for 89%, Vietnam for 8%, and China for 3%. 

Attendance Issues:The Canadian government also observed another crisis. Despite having valid study permits, the international students were not attending their classes. In 2024, nearly 50,000 students failed to attend their Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs). This raised questions over the effectiveness of Canada's International Student Compliance Regime.

Concern Over Unscrupulous Advisors and Consultants:The wider role played in fraud was that of the unscrupulous immigration consultants and advisors. These service providers charged heavy fees and issued fake documents. In March 2023, Indian authorities arrested a travel agent from Education and Migration Services. It was a firm accused of forging visa documents of international students. Jenny Kwan, immigration critic for Canada's New Democratic Party, described the situation as "extremely alarming,". 

Key Measures Taken To Tackle The Issue

To address challenges in the International student programme and misuse of it, the Canadian government has introduced new measures aimed at helping genuine students. 

LOA Verification Requirement:Beginning March, it has been made mandatory to verify all the letters of acceptance. It is now compulsory to validate the letters of acceptance from IRCC before any study permits can be issued. Verification was not mandatory in the earlier regime and was undertaken only if officers had any suspicion. The system has proven remarkably effective, successfully intercepting the 10,000+ fraudulent letters discovered in 2024.

"Recognised Institution" Framework:The format prioritises the post-secondary DLIs, demonstrating higher standards for services, support, and outcomes for international students. This should let the students choose quality institutions. This framework rewards institutions that invest in student success and maintain rigorous standards. This should create a two-tier system that incentivises excellence.

International Student Compliance Regime (ISCR) Enhancements:The International Student Compliance Regime (ISCR) has undergone significant enhancements under the new measures. The regime now has access to vast amounts of data to help IRCC with insight into whether international students are compliant with their study permit conditions. The Integrity Trend Analysis Tool (ITAT) is a valuable tool that allows IRCC to identify historically adverse patterns and potentially high-risk applications.

Caps on Student Permits / Control of Permit Volumes:Another dramatic and impactful measure has been the capping of international student intake. In January 2024, Canada imposed a temporary cap allowing up to 485,000 approved study permits that year. For 2025, the government reduced this figure by 10% to 437,000 study permits. Immigration Minister Marc Miller made clear that "the international student cap is here to stay,". That means this is not a temporary adjustment. Instead, it is a fundamental policy shift.

Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) Requirement:This should be another significant part of the newly introduced system. Starting January 22, 2024, most international students must obtain a PAL (Provincial Attestation Letter) or a Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) from the province or territory where their school is located. The requirement applies to undergraduate students in bachelor's and after-degree programmes, graduate students in master's and PhD programmes (as of 2025), students reapplying after refusal, ESL/FSL students, and students in diploma or certificate programmes.

Increased Cost-of-Living:The Canadian government has also hiked the financial requirements for international students. For a study permit in Canada, a single applicant must show proof of at least CAN$22,895 for living expenses, in addition to tuition and travel costs, for applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025

Accountability for Designated Learning Institutions:Effective November 8, 2024, new regulatory conditions require post-secondary DLIs to meet specific obligations under subsection 222.1(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. DLIs will have to verify letters of acceptance within 10 calendar days, submit student compliance reports within 60 calendar days of requests (sent twice yearly on March 1 and November 1), and provide corrected, updated, or additional information within 10 calendar days when requested. Failure to comply carries serious consequences.

Positive and Negative Impacts of the New Student Fraud Rules

The new measures have been introduced to combat fraud in the international students programme. Even when it has positive results, it may also have a few negative impacts. 

Positive Impact of the Reforms:

• Improved fraud protection: The fraudulent service providers will no longer victimise students. It can also prevent deportation scenarios.
• Realistic financial planning: This will help students understand the actual cost of living in Canada.
• Access to quality education:Preference for quality institutes will help students get the proper education they are looking for.
• Improved system integrity: strategic management of international student populations aligned with available infrastructure.

Negative Impact of New Measures :

However, there are several negative impacts felt as well. Access to Canadian education will be dramatically reduced. The process, too, tends to be quite complex. This can leave aspiring students overwhelmed and abandon the idea to study in Canada. The process can introduce unnecessary delays and unpredictability in obtaining a student permit. This can hurt the student morale. If you belong to a middle-class family, it can pose a severe financial barrier. 

How Can Edroots Help You Navigate Through The Challenges? 

Navigating Canada's new stringent international student measures is not easy. It requires expert guidance, up-to-date knowledge, and comprehensive support. That is precisely what Edroots can provide you. We are an award-winning study abroad consultant with over 15 years of experience and 18,000+ successful student placements. Edroots is uniquely positioned as the leading study abroad consultant in Dubai to help international students overcome the challenges of Canada's reformed system. In an increasingly complex Canadian international student landscape, having an experienced, trustworthy partner is quite practical. Edroots makes the difference between a stressful, uncertain journey and a smooth, successful path. 

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