he study from the Institut du Québec recently unveiled that the federal government denies 47% of study permit applications from foreign students selected by Quebec and accepted by a Quebec university. The refusal rate is even higher for applicants whose language is French (55%) and for those originating from Africa (72%). In contrast, applicants whose native language is English and who originate from Europe have a much higher chance of having their study permits approved by the federal government.
An article from La Presse[1] mentions that one of the main reasons cited by the federal government to justify these refusals is the risk that the foreign student will not return to their country after completing their studies. This rationale is deemed "nonsensical" by the study's authors, Emma Braham and Daye Diallo. This stance by the federal government contradicts its goal to welcome 500,000 immigrants in 2025[2] and its view of considering immigrants with higher education degrees as prime candidates for permanent residency through the points-based system (Express Entry). It's also important to note that in 2022, one in six permanent residents first entered the country as a student.
Despite this, the timeline for obtaining permanent residency for a graduate from a Quebec institution is longer than for those graduating outside Quebec due to the requirement to have worked for 12 to 18 months in Quebec to be selected under the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) and the processing time for applications by IRCC, which are estimated at 21 months for permanent residency applications from Quebec.
[1] Colpron, Suzanne, "Half of the applications for Quebec refused by Ottawa", Published on May 18, 2023
[2] Bellavance, Joël-Denis, "Canada plans to welcome 500,000 immigrants in 2025", Published on November 1, 2022
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