IRCC: Up to 47,175 International Students May Be Non-Compliant

(CANADA) Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has identified up to 47,175 foreign students who may be in the country illegally after being flagged as non-compliant with study permit rules, senior officials told Parliament in late September. The disclosure came from Aiesha Zafar, Assistant Deputy Minister for Migration Integrity at IRCC, during a House of Commons immigration committee hearing on September 23, 2025.

The figure, current as of early October, reflects students reported by schools as not attending classes or listed as “no-shows.” It is a preliminary count and will be tested through follow-up checks.

Scope and significance

The scope is notable. According to IRCC, the flagged group represents roughly 8% of the international student population captured in recent compliance sweeps. While not all students flagged will be found in violation, the size of the pool—and the system’s limits in confirming actual status in real time—has sharpened the government’s focus on:

• Attendance tracking
• Recruitment practices
• Removal operations

Under the current process, Canadian post-secondary schools designated to host international students must report student enrollment and attendance to IRCC twice a year. If a student is not found in class, withdraws without proper notice, or never arrives, the school must mark that student as non-compliant. IRCC then shares relevant data with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which is responsible for locating and, when required, removing people who are in the country without status.

IRCC stressed that these are “potentially non-compliant” cases, not final rulings. Some students may have moved to a new program, taken an approved leave, or restored status through other steps that were not reflected in the school’s latest reporting cycle. Still, the department acknowledged the numbers point to deeper problems in parts of the student pipeline, including recruitment abuses and poor oversight where private colleges and agents are involved.

Compliance findings and reporting process

The compliance data shows a wide international footprint, with India leading the list of countries tied to non-attendance reports.

Highlights from spring 2024:

• Nearly 50,000 international students were flagged as “no-shows”
• 19,582 from India
• 4,279 from China
• Sizable counts from Nigeria and Ghana

IRCC officials say these “no-show” reports feed the pool of potentially non-compliant students later reviewed for follow-up.

How the reporting process works

1. Schools report enrollment and attendance updates two times each year.
2. If a student is listed as not studying, that triggers a status review.
3. IRCC shares data with CBSA for potential location and removal actions.

Key limitations

• IRCC cannot track a student’s exact location.
• The department has no current tools to penalize schools that fail to submit accurate or timely reports.
• Lack of timely or accurate reporting makes it hard to confirm whether each student is truly out of status or if records are simply out of date.

The enforcement handoff also creates challenges. Once IRCC shares files, CBSA must find the person. Without current addresses or student contact details, this can be slow work. CBSA prioritizes higher-risk cases, so some student investigations may wait.

Consequences for mislabelled students

• Students wrongly tagged as non-compliant can face problems renewing study permits or applying for work permission.
• Fixing records may be slow, especially if students change addresses or lack support from former schools.

For official guidance on reporting duties and timelines, IRCC explains the process for designated learning institutions here: IRCC guidance for designated learning institutions on compliance reporting.

Important: These cases are potential non-compliance flags, not final determinations. Students should verify their status with their school and IRCC promptly if flagged.

Policy tightening and enforcement limits

The federal response has been broad and impactful.

• IRCC has sharply reduced new study permits in 2025: 36,417 permits approved from January to June 2025, down from 125,034 for the same period in 2024.
• Financial proof requirements increased: as of September 2025, international students must show $22,895 CAD in available funds (up from $20,635).
• Work rules loosened during the pandemic were tightened again in November 2024 to reinforce that study should be the primary purpose of stay.

Summary of major changes

• Stricter study permits: Fewer approvals through 2025 compared with 2024
• Higher proof-of-funds: Now $22,895 CAD
• Tighter work rules: More limits since November 2024
• Closer review of agents and private colleges: Increased oversight of recruitment and admissions

Analysis and effects

According to VisaVerge.com, these steps have forced many schools to scale back international intakes and pushed applicants to reconsider Canada or explore other destinations. Private colleges that relied on high overseas enrollment are under particular pressure, and applicants face longer waits and stricter checks.

Persistent enforcement limits

• IRCC cannot currently penalize designated schools that skip or delay reporting, which can distort compliance data.
• Students may be wrongly tagged as non-compliant because of deferred studies, program changes, or approved leaves not reflected in reports.
• Correcting records can be difficult if schools are slow to update or if students lack documentation.

Advocates warn that tighter rules plus large compliance sweeps can create stress and confusion. Some students may only learn of a non-compliant flag when trying to renew documents, by which point course registration deadlines or restoration options may have passed.

Recommendations and responsibilities

IRCC’s message to current and prospective students is straightforward:

• Attend classes
• Keep documents up to date
• Respond to school notices promptly

Students who switch programs or institutions should confirm that both schools update IRCC status records during and after a transfer. If a student takes an approved leave, they should retain proof and keep contact details current.

For employers

• Confirm a student’s right to work before hiring.
• Be aware of revised work-hour limits since November 2024.
• Ensure students are actively enrolled before relying on them as employees.

For schools

• Reporting obligations are not optional. Failure to report can expose students to status problems and risk the institution’s designated status.
• Recommended practices:
  • Maintain clear attendance systems
  • Provide fast updates after program transfers
  • Offer direct support for students who miss classes due to illness or family emergencies

Next steps and outlook

IRCC and CBSA have not released a timeline for reducing the current backlog of non-compliant cases. Officials signaled that more steps may follow if data quality does not improve.

The next compliance reporting cycle will be an important test of:

• Whether schools and recruiters adjust to tighter rules
• Whether the number of flagged students declines

Final takeaway: Improved reporting, faster corrections, and better oversight of recruitment channels are essential to reduce wrongful flags and ensure the integrity of Canada’s international student program.