Why Thousands of International Graduates Could Lose Status in Canada

Tens of thousands of international graduates in Canada are approaching the end of their post-graduation work permits, leaving many unsure of whether they will be able to stay and work in the country.

According to recent figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), more than 31,000 permits are due to expire by the end of December. Graduates whose permits lapse have 90 days to apply for restoration. They may remain in Canada during that period but must stop working until their status is resolved. 

Those who do not act within the 90-day window are required to leave, and any return is subject to an immigration officer’s discretion. The situation is particularly significant given the rapid expansion of Canada’s international student population. Numbers have grown from roughly 350,000 in 2015 to more than one million in 2023, with post-graduation work permits increasing more than six-fold to 240,200 over the same period. 

These permits generally last between eight months and three years, depending on the length of study, and their expiry now marks a critical moment for many graduates. Economists and immigration specialists warn that the consequences could extend beyond individual cases. 

Temporary residents make up an estimated 7.3 per cent of Canada’s population, around three million people, raising concerns that permit expiries could increase the number of people living without legal status. CIBC deputy chief economist Benjamin Tal has estimated that up to one million people may already be in Canada with expired temporary visas, many of whom originally entered the country legally years ago.

The federal government aims to reduce the share of temporary residents to 5 per cent by 2027, although officials acknowledge they do not have precise data on how many people remain after their permits end. The Canada Border Services Agency reported about 18,000 deportations last year but did not specify how many involved former students or workers.

IRCC data shows that the number of expiring post-graduation permits has dropped sharply compared with last year, when roughly 70,000 were due to lapse. However, challenges persist. Of the 115,000 permits that expired in 2025, only 12 percent were extended or converted into other work permits. Some graduates progressed to permanent residency. 

Statistics Canada reports that 12 percent of new permanent residents in 2022 previously held post-graduation permits, but most face uncertain outcomes.