CIMM – Indo-Pacific Strategy – November 29, 2022

Key Messages

• Canada has deep people-to-people ties with the Indo-Pacific.
• The Indo-Pacific region is already a major source of newcomers to Canada. This new Strategy will further enhance those existing connections and support Canada’s place among the world’s top destinations to study, work and settle.
• Through the Indo-Pacific Strategy, IRCC will invest $74.6 million over five years, and $15.7 million ongoing, to boost visa application processing capacity and strengthen the international student program.

Supplementary Messages

Bolstering Visa Processing Capacity

• The Indo-Pacific region is a major source of applicants seeking permanent and temporary residence in Canada. These trends will continue as the Canada looks to continued growth in admissions in the years ahead.
• To support the Indo-Pacific Strategy objective of “Investing In and Connecting People,” IRCC will bolster visa processing capacity to ease access for students, workers, and visitors.
• This initiative will enhance visa processing capacity within Canada’s centralized network, as well as in key locations in the region (exact locations to be determined), to support ongoing efforts to accommodate the high volume of temporary resident visa applications (visa, study permit, and work permit).

Strengthening Canada’s International Student Program

• International students are foundational to Canada’s economic success, contributing billions to Canada’s economy and serving as both a critical source of temporary labour during their period of study, as well as an important source of future permanent residents.
• Through the Indo-Pacific Strategy, IRCC will also work to strengthen Canada’s international student program. As part of this initiative, IRCC will explore ways to make applications and program requirements more user-friendly and easier to navigate, streamlining application processes and improving opportunities for students to transition to permanent residence.
• This funding will also support market diversification, helping to promote greater diversity among those looking to study in Canada and encourage more francophone newcomers from countries in the region to come to Canada (e.g. Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos).