International students in Canada face food insecurity amid food bank access restrictions

Thousands of international students and recent graduates in Canada are facing challenges in accessing basic food supplies after food banks across the country imposed restrictions limiting access to only Canadian citizens and permanent residents. This decision comes amid a supply crisis affecting food banks nationwide, exacerbating the struggles of non-resident individuals who rely heavily on such services for sustenance, as per a report by The Times of India.

Food banks across Canada have restricted services to citizens and permanent residents, leaving international students and recent graduates scrambling for alternatives to meet basic food needs.

For many international students, food banks were not just a convenience but a necessity. Students say the food banks saved them anywhere between CAD 300 to CAD 400 every month. "It is a significant sum when balancing tuition fees, rent, and utilities in a country where the cost of living continues to rise," said a 27-year-old to Times of India from Hyderabad living in Vancouver and working at a restaurant.

The new restrictions, implemented quietly by several food bank networks in recent weeks, have shocked the international student community. The reasoning cited by some providers—that international students must demonstrate financial self-sufficiency for their visas—has been met with frustration by students who argue that paper-based declarations rarely reflect reality once they arrive.

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"I came here with some savings, but I didn't expect food to be this expensive," said another student to TOI, currently pursuing a master's in business management in Surrey. He said, "Food banks really helped me stretch my budget. Now that option is gone, and I have started skipping meals to make things work."

"I took a loan just to study here. That loan doesn't account for grocery inflation or the fact that part-time jobs are impossible to find right now," said a graduate student from Hyderabad working in a coffee shop in Toronto. "We're not looking for charity—we're trying to survive."

The situation highlights the broader challenges faced by international students in Canada, including high tuition fees, limited employment opportunities, and rising living costs. As food banks adjust their policies amid resource constraints, international students are left seeking alternative means to meet their basic needs.

(With inputs from TOI)