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Canada’s latest overhaul of its Express Entry system and related immigration measures is triggering concern across Africa, as South Africa joins Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, Ethiopia, Somalia and a widening list of countries facing tougher entry conditions for skilled migrants and students seeking a pathway to permanent residence.
African Aspirants Feel the Impact of Ottawa’s Policy Reset
Canada’s recalibration of its skilled immigration intake is being felt acutely across Africa, where a growing middle class has long viewed the country as one of the most accessible routes to high-skilled migration. Recent moves by Ottawa to tighten selection criteria, reduce dependence on certain visa streams and reinforce program integrity are changing that perception, making the route to Canada more competitive for professionals and graduates from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, Ethiopia, Somalia and other African states.
While Canada has not explicitly targeted any single African country in its latest changes, the cumulative effect of raised financial thresholds, study permit caps, program closures and adjustments to Express Entry scoring is narrowing the window for many would-be applicants. Analysts and migration advisers say the trend is particularly worrisome because it overlaps with similar barriers emerging in other popular destinations, limiting global options for African talent.
The policy reset coincides with a broader political debate in Canada over housing pressures, rising student numbers and the role of immigration in the labour market. Officials insist that reforms are designed to protect program integrity and ensure new arrivals can afford life in Canada, but critics argue that African applicants, especially from lower and middle-income backgrounds, are disproportionately affected.
Express Entry Revamp Reorders Priorities and Points
Express Entry, the federal application management system that selects skilled workers for permanent residence, remains the main avenue for many African professionals. However, policy changes in 2025 have reshaped how candidates are ranked and which occupations are prioritized, shifting the calculus for engineers, IT specialists, health workers and academics across the continent.
One of the most consequential steps was the removal of Comprehensive Ranking System points for arranged employment, which had previously allowed candidates from countries such as Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya to significantly boost their scores by securing job offers supported by labour market assessments. With this advantage now removed, many African candidates find themselves sliding down the rankings, reducing their chances of receiving invitations to apply.
At the same time, Canada has overhauled its category-based selection within Express Entry, doubling down on sectors such as healthcare, social services and trades while also adding a dedicated category for education-focused occupations. Candidates with French-language proficiency or recent work experience in a narrowed list of priority fields are now more likely to receive invitations, favouring some applicants from francophone African nations while leaving others scrambling to realign their careers or seek Canadian experience through temporary visas.
Study Permit Caps and Higher Financial Thresholds Hit African Students
The tightening is not limited to skilled worker selection. Ottawa’s decision to cap most international student permit applications for a two-year period, starting in 2024, has introduced an additional layer of competition for African applicants who often see Canadian education as a stepping stone toward permanent residence. The national cap, paired with provincial quotas, is designed to reduce total approvals significantly compared with prior years, putting pressure on institutions to be more selective in their recruitment.
Canada has also raised the cost-of-living requirement for study permit applicants, substantially increasing the minimum funds students must demonstrate before they can be approved. Officials argue that the change protects students from vulnerability and underfunding, but for many families in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Somalia and elsewhere, the new benchmark represents a far higher barrier to entry than in the past.
Internal briefing documents from Canada’s immigration department acknowledge that Africa already faced lower approval rates for study permits even before the financial threshold rose and caps were introduced. Those documents note that many refusals were linked to concerns about financial sufficiency and doubts that applicants would leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay. With higher proof-of-funds requirements now in place and fewer overall study spots available, education agents across the continent expect acceptance rates to become even more uneven.
Closure of Fast-Track Streams Adds to Processing Delays
Another key development for African students and their families has been the closure of Canada’s fast-track processing options that once helped applicants from select countries navigate the system more quickly. The Student Direct Stream, a popular route launched in 2018, and the Nigeria Student Express stream, introduced in 2020, were both discontinued in late 2024, forcing all eligible students back into the standard processing channel.
Those programs had offered expedited decisions for applicants from countries such as Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco and several others, provided they met strict documentation and financial criteria. For years, these fast-track options were promoted by Canadian institutions and recruiters as an incentive for African students weighing Canada against competitors like the United Kingdom or Australia.
With expedited study permit processing no longer available, students from Nigeria and other affected nations now face longer and less predictable timelines. Education consultants warn that this may lead to missed intake dates, disrupted academic planning and a shift in favour of countries where decision times are more stable. The loss of these priority channels also compounds the challenges posed by study caps and higher financial thresholds.
Country-by-Country Effects Across the Continent
South Africa’s highly educated workforce has historically been well represented in Express Entry draws, particularly through professional and technical occupations. Migration advisers in Johannesburg say the removal of arranged employment points and the refocusing on specific priority categories have made it harder for mid-career professionals without French language skills or Canadian credentials to compete, especially when they are also supporting spouses and dependants.
Nigeria, one of the largest sources of international students and skilled migrants to Canada, has been hit by a combination of factors: the end of the Nigeria Student Express stream, the new study caps and rising refusal rates for applicants judged to lack sufficient financial backing. Visa consultants in Lagos report that clients who would have sailed through the system three or four years ago are now facing extended processing times, more document requests and, in some cases, outright refusals despite similar profiles.
Elsewhere in Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia are feeling the squeeze in different ways. Professionals in Kenya’s technology and health sectors have seen some opportunities preserved through category-based selection, but they now compete within a more crowded global field. Applicants from Ethiopia and Somalia, many of whom have family ties in Canada, face heightened scrutiny around finances and intent to return, while they navigate increasingly complex application forms and requirements. In North Africa, Morocco’s inclusion in earlier fast-track routes for study permits initially gave it an edge, but the closure of expedited processing has eroded that advantage.
Francophone Pathways Offer Openings for Some, Not All
Not all African candidates are worse off under Canada’s revamped approach. The country has repeatedly signalled an ambition to increase francophone immigration outside Quebec, creating new opportunities for applicants from French-speaking countries such as Senegal, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and parts of North and Central Africa.
Category-based selection within Express Entry now prioritizes strong French-language proficiency, and Canada has layered additional initiatives on top of that, including pilots aimed at Francophone minority communities and streamlined options for francophone students. For African applicants who are fluent in French and can align their studies or careers with sectors like healthcare, social services or education, this policy shift may open doors that were previously narrower.
However, this does little to ease the burden on large anglophone populations in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Somalia, where French is not widely spoken. Migration experts point out that while francophone Africans may see new pathways emerge, the overall number of available spots under Express Entry and related programs remains constrained by national planning levels, meaning competition is still intense even within priority categories.
Integrity Measures, Higher Scrutiny and Allegations of Bias
Canadian officials maintain that the suite of changes is driven by integrity concerns, citing a rise in fraudulent documentation, unscrupulous consultants and cases where students fail to enrol or remain in good standing. Internal reviews and parliamentary committee hearings have highlighted vulnerabilities in the system and called for tighter controls, especially in relation to temporary residents who later claim asylum or work outside the terms of their visas.
For African applicants, this focus on integrity has translated into more thorough background checks, additional document requests and higher evidence thresholds, particularly around proof of funds and ties to home countries. Data from the immigration department shows that global study permit approval rates have fallen alongside the introduction of caps and stricter criteria, with approval rates for African residents lagging well behind the worldwide average.
Advocacy groups and some Canadian academics argue that the gap in approval rates raises questions about systemic bias or unequal treatment. They point out that applicants from African countries who meet published criteria still face significantly lower odds of success than peers from other regions, even after controlling for factors such as language ability and financial resources. The government has responded by promising more anti-bias training and quality assurance checks for visa officers, but it has not announced any immediate relaxation of the new rules.
Advisers Urge Strategic Planning as Barriers Rise
Amid the shifting landscape, immigration lawyers and licensed consultants across Africa are advising prospective applicants to be more strategic and realistic about their Canadian plans. They urge skilled workers in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and beyond to focus on improving language scores, gaining experience in priority occupations, and preparing meticulous documentation that anticipates tougher scrutiny.
For students, many advisers now encourage early planning that accounts for provincial attestation letters, higher living-cost thresholds and longer processing times. Some are also steering families toward smaller Canadian provinces where competition for study spots may be less intense, though allocations remain capped nationally. Others suggest that applicants explore alternative destinations or regional hubs while monitoring potential adjustments in Canadian policy in the coming years.
What is clear, stakeholders say, is that Canada’s appeal as a destination for African talent will increasingly hinge on how accessible its pathways remain in practice. As Ottawa continues to refine Express Entry and its broader immigration framework, African countries from South Africa to Somalia will be watching closely to see whether the current tightening signals a temporary correction or a lasting shift toward more restrictive entry conditions.