Canada has recorded a sharp decline in international study permits in 2025, with the number falling by 25% compared to 2024. The drop has been even steeper for Indian students, whose intake nearly halved over the past year.
According to annual data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, total study permits issued declined from 514,915 in 2024 to 383,905 in 2025. This marks a significant fall from the 2023 record high of 680,795 permits and represents the lowest intake since 2018, excluding the pandemic-hit year of 2020.
For Indian students, the decline has been particularly dramatic. Study permit numbers dropped from 188,715 in 2024 to 94,605 in 2025. In 2023, the figure had stood at 277,965, highlighting the scale of the contraction over two years.
The Canadian government has introduced a series of measures aimed at reducing the country’s temporary resident population. In a speech in Toronto, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said restoring “control and balance” to the immigration system was a key priority under Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Authorities have capped international student numbers, made acceptance letter verification mandatory to curb fraud, and increased financial requirements for applicants. These steps follow growing concerns that a surge in temporary residents was straining housing affordability and public infrastructure.
In its latest immigration levels plan, IRCC projected a further 7% decrease in total study permits for 2026. The total number of permits to be issued next year will be capped at 408,000 — including 155,000 new student visas and 253,000 extensions for current or returning students. This is 16% lower than the 2024 issuance target of 485,000.
Officials noted that the cap, first introduced in 2024, has already reduced the number of study permit holders from over one million in January 2024 to around 725,000 by September 2025. However, further reductions are planned as the government aims to bring the temporary population below 5% of Canada’s total population by the end of 2027.
Under the revised plan, the annual intake of new international students has been set at 155,000 for 2026, with a further reduction to 150,000 projected for 2027 and 2028.