Canada Study Visa Issuance Drops 48% in 2025 Report
Canada issued just 267,890 new study permits to international students in 2024, marking a steep 48% drop compared to 2023 and falling far short of the federal government’s target under its newly introduced enrolment cap policy. The figure represents 100,000 fewer permits than initially planned./p>
Planned Cut Overshoots Target
The Canadian government had aimed for a 35% reduction in new study permits for 2024, setting a target of around 364,000 approvals. However, the actual decline was sharper, underscoring the deep impact of recent immigration policy changes on the international education sector./p>
Impact on Indian Students
Indian nationals, the largest source of foreign students in Canada, were among the most affected. In the first quarter of 2025, the number of study permits issued to Indians fell by 31% year-on-year — from 44,295 in Q1 2024 to 30,650 in Q1 2025./p>
Economic and Institutional Fallout
Colleges and universities, particularly in Ontario, have reported enrolment drops of 30–50%, leading to course cancellations, hiring freezes, and layoffs. Industry estimates suggest over 8,500 job losses across the higher education sector in 2024 alone, driven by reduced international tuition revenues./p>
Tighter Rules and Lower Approval Rates
The downturn follows a series of policy shifts:/p>
- Introduction of a national study permit cap to manage population growth./li>
- Stricter financial requirements for applicants./li>
- Lower approval rates — down from 59.8% in 2023 to 48% in 2024./li>
- Restrictions on post-graduation work permits and dependent visas./li>
Looking Ahead
For 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a fresh cap of 437,000 study permits, representing a further 10% cut from 2024 levels. The government says the measures are intended to ensure sustainable population growth and protect housing affordability, but education sector leaders warn of lasting damage to Canada’s reputation as a top study destination./p>