Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s message to international students: Study, then return home

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has reiterated that international students in Canada are expected to leave once their study visas expire if they have not secured permanent residency.

In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) Smith wrote, “A student visa is a temporary document to study in Canada. That was always understood. Our universities and colleges were built by Alberta taxpayers, first and foremost for Alberta students. Where there is room for international students, the terms are simple. Earn your education, then return home to build a life with it.”Her comments come against a backdrop of rising concern that some international students have been promised pathways to permanent residency that may not actually exist.

The Portage College controversy

Smith's remarks were made in the context of protests by international students, many from India, who studied at Portage College and have since reported difficulties obtaining Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs). While Smith rejected characterizing Portage College itself as a "diploma mill," she acknowledged that some programs may have overstated the immigration opportunities they offered students. She said there had been instances of unscrupulous operators setting up diploma-granting programs that took advantage of students.

On the underlying policy, she was direct: if someone comes to Canada as an international student, their visa expires, and they don't have permanent residency, they need to go home.

A tougher immigration environment nationally

Smith's comments align with a broader tightening of Canada's immigration system. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has warned that working without proper authorization can carry serious consequences, including removal from Canada, a five-year ban on returning to the country, and a permanent fraud flag attached to an individual's immigration record.

Unauthorized work can also negatively affect future visa applications and permanent residency prospects.

IRCC has framed its recent reforms as an effort to protect students and strengthen the integrity of the international student program overall.

What prospective students should know

IRCC has cautioned that admission to a Canadian college or university does not automatically translate into a work permit or a path to permanent residency. The agency advises students to independently verify their chosen institution, understand the specific eligibility requirements tied to their program, and remain cautious of anyone promising guaranteed immigration outcomes. More broadly, students are being urged to look beyond admission offers alone and carefully examine what their specific program actually permits them to do after graduation, rather than assuming a study visa will lead smoothly into long-term status in the country.