Impact of recent Canadian immigration policy changes on the educational and professional opportunities of international postsecondary students

This article analyzes the impacts of recent Canadian immigration policy changes on the educational and professional opportunities of international postsecondary students, with particular emphasis on vulnerable groups, including mature students, students with disabilities, and students with family responsibilities. Using a qualitative, multimethod policy analysis, this study draws on a systematic examination of federal and provincial immigration policy documents, institutional communications, and reflexive practitioner insight derived from the authors’ experience in advising international students in the Canadian college sector. Guided by the theoretical lenses of neoliberalism in higher education and the capability approach, the analysis demonstrates how recent policy shifts—including study-permit caps, restrictions on postgraduation work eligibility, limits on spousal work authorization, and constraints on student mobility—have intensified precarity and constrained students’ capabilities. The findings also highlight disproportionate impacts on students from the Global South and those facing intersecting social and economic vulnerabilities and conclude with evidence-based policy considerations.