Stricter Visa Rules Limit Choices for International Students

Significant changes in immigration policy that focus on introducing caps, bars, and limits on the number of international students are severely impacting on the access of foreign nationals to key education hotspots. Many see foreign students as easy targets when it comes to driving down immigration and allaying the often-unfounded fears and prejudices of their electorates. Even though globalization and advances in technology have created an increasingly connected world for young people, it seems that governments in historically popular destinations such as the USA, the UK, and Canada are slamming the brakes on their intake of international students. 

Changes in legislation and their (un)intended impact

Perhaps the most obvious example is the UK with its stringent immigration policies that keep changing, becoming more complex and exclusionary, causing many prospective international students to pursue other options. In January 2024, the British Government introduced a policy which effectively barred international students on taught courses such as master’s degrees from bringing family members with them. Since many individuals pursue these sorts of degrees later in life when they have had some professional experience, they likely will have families. Imposing a ban on bringing your family means most will no longer consider the UK. A survey carried out by Universities UK shows that postgraduate student numbers have fallen by a staggering 40% across the 70 surveyed universities around the UK since these changes were introduced, having a significant impact on student numbers and leading to higher international student fees.

In a similar manner, Canada has introduced a cap on the number of foreign students admitted to the country for the next two years to relieve pressure on housing and healthcare within certain Canadian provinces. There was a 35% decrease in approved study permits for the current academic year compared to the previous one. The USA also rejected an unprecedented 36% of international student visa applications in 2023, equating to around 250,000 students, although the overall number of places at various universities across the country has increased. 

Such trends are obviously discouraging to international students who, in addition to navigating a complex admissions process and often allocating a significant sum to pursue education in these destinations, must now also operate within the constraints of the increasingly difficult, time-consuming, and strict immigration policies. As a result, many students and their families are now looking at new, emerging locations which may not have the historic prestige, but have multiple other advantages, including being in prime global locations, having a high quality of education, more relaxed immigration policies, less competition, and excellent postgraduate prospects.

The most sought-after academic destinations

Asia has historically been the primary source region for international students, led by China and closely followed by India in recent years. Asian students traditionally pursue higher education at various global destinations, choosing the established hotspots of the UK, the USA, Canada, and Europe. However, affected by stricter immigration policies and the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, Asian students are increasingly choosing new destinations and staying within Asia.

There is a significant rise in popularity of study destinations such as Hong Kong (SAR China), Japan, and Singapore. Data from the British Council also highlighted cultural affinity: “What we saw was that the older generation [in China] were very attracted to the West, while the younger generation are much more interested in regional study destinations in terms of culture and study experiences”, said Matt Durnin, global head of Insights and Consultancy at the British Council. 

The number of Chinese students applying to the USA has been falling consistently for the last seven years, even before the pandemic, with India now surpassing China as the number one source country for the US education industry. In many respects, Asian countries are evolving from being primarily source markets to establishing themselves as desirable study destinations. NUS in Singapore is now ranked 8th in the world in the latest Britain-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2025 released in early June. This illustrates the wider trend of popularity and prestige among universities in these new emergent destinations, with universities in South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong (SAR China), along with the UAE, also welcoming pan-Asian students. 

Investment migration opens doors to studying abroad

Given the increasing barriers faced by international students, investment migration can present a viable alternative for those seeking the necessary permissions to study abroad. Residence programs such as the UK Innovator Founder Visa or the US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, for example, can provide a more straightforward and expedited route to securing the necessary legal status to reside and study in a desired country. This could also be impactful for prime Asian locations, such as Singapore.

To illustrate the benefits of investment migration, let’s look at the case study of a Filipino family investing in the Spain Residence by Investment Program where the investment requirement is EUR 500,000. Considering the excellent education and a well-defined route to citizenship that comes after a set residence period, and the extensive opportunities that arise due to their ability to live, work, and study across the European Union as Spanish citizens, it is an investment well worth making. 

A comparison of the advantages secured for the family by obtaining Spanish residence rights is illustrated on the Henley Opportunity Index which shows a huge jumps in scores for career advancement (from 16 to 60), employment prospects (17 to 63), and most significantly, economic mobility with an astounding leap from 10 to 93. 

Consider also a Nigerian family whose children wish to pursue higher education in the USA, where a four-year degree at a prestigious university now costs over USD 250,000. While the degree and knowledge they graduate with is of great value, they will likely have to return to Nigeria to work if they are relying on a student visa followed by sponsored employment to enable them to stay in the USA post-graduation. 

Gaining US residence rights via the US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program requires a minimum investment of USD 800,000, which ensures that graduates can live and work in the country, without the added pressure of securing a job. Moreover, considering the fact that the children’s earning potential increases four times and their economic mobility a staggering 36 times by acquiring residence (and citizenship after five years) in the USA alongside the already attained premium education, the one-time investment is more than justified.

Obtaining residence or citizenship through investment allows students to bypass some of the stringent visa requirements and application processes. It also enables additional benefits and flexibility, such as the ability to work part-time, access healthcare, and enjoy an international lifestyle. Importantly, it eliminates restrictions for those who want to bring family members or explore future career prospects in the host country and gives you the right to work and build your career in that country once graduated.