Canada Study Permits for Indian Students Drop Nearly 50% Since 2024: IRCC Data
Prime Vista News
Canada has sharply reduced study permits, with approvals for Indian students falling nearly 50% since 2024, as Ottawa tightens immigration policy, IRCC data shows.
Tighter immigration controls, housing pressures and policy caps reshape Canada’s international education landscape
Canada’s international education sector is undergoing a significant reset, with new data revealing a sharp decline in study permits issued to foreign students and an even steeper fall for Indian nationals. According to figures released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), study permits granted to Indian students dropped by nearly 50 per cent in 2025 compared to the previous year, reflecting Ottawa’s broader effort to curb temporary immigration.
The overall number of study permits issued to international students fell from 514,915 in 2024 to 383,905 in 2025, marking a 25 per cent reduction year-on-year. This followed an already dramatic pullback from the record high of 680,795 permits in 2023, when Canada experienced an unprecedented surge in foreign student arrivals.
Sharpest Decline Seen Among Indian Students
Indian students who for years have formed the largest share of Canada’s international student population were among the most affected by the policy shift. IRCC data shows that the number of study permits held by Indian nationals dropped from 188,715 in 2024 to 94,605 in 2025, nearly halving within a single year.
For comparison, the number of Indian study permit holders stood at 277,965 in 2023, highlighting the scale of the contraction over a relatively short period.
Officials noted that the figures include both newly arriving students and those already in Canada whose permits remained valid during the year.
Lowest Intake Since the Pandemic Era
The decline in international student intake has pushed Canada’s numbers to their lowest level in several years. Apart from the pandemic-disrupted year of 2020, when global travel restrictions caused permits to plunge to 255,530, the 2025 figures represent the weakest intake since 2018, when 354,260 study permits were issued.
IRCC said the reduction reflects a deliberate policy decision to bring international student numbers down to what it described as a “sustainable level.”
Government Cites Systemic Pressures
Speaking at an event in Toronto last week, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lena Metlege Diab, said the government had been tasked with restoring balance and public confidence in the immigration system.
“When I was appointed to this role, the task was clear,” she said. “It included restoring control, rebuilding confidence, and ensuring our immigration system remains fair, credible, and sustainable.”
Officials have repeatedly linked the policy shift to mounting concerns over housing affordability, strained public infrastructure, and the rapid growth of Canada’s temporary resident population.
Policy Changes Driving the Decline
The fall in study permit numbers follows a series of measures introduced from the last quarter of 2023 onward, including:
- A cap on international student intake
- Mandatory verification of letters of acceptance to curb fraud
- Higher financial requirements for applicants
- Increased scrutiny of institutions enrolling international students
IRCC reported that there were 61 per cent fewer new international student arrivals in 2025 compared to the previous year a decline of 177,595 students.
The department emphasised that total permit figures include both new entrants and extensions granted to students already studying in Canada.
Caps to Continue Through 2026 and Beyond
Under Canada’s immigration levels plan announced in November 2025, study permit issuance will remain tightly controlled. IRCC confirmed that the total number of study permits to be issued in 2026 will be capped at 408,000, comprising:
- 155,000 permits for new international students
- 253,000 extensions for current and returning students
“This number is 7 per cent lower than the 2025 issuance target of 437,000 and 16 per cent lower than the 2024 target of 485,000,” IRCC said.
The cap was first introduced in 2024 and, according to the department, has already delivered measurable results.
Earlier Report : Amid Cancer Treatment, Dipika Kakar to Undergo Procedure for 13-mm Liver Cyst
Temporary Population Reduction a Key Goal
IRCC said the study permit cap has been an “effective tool” in slowing the growth of Canada’s temporary resident population. The number of active study permit holders has fallen from over one million in January 2024 to approximately 725,000 by September 2025.
“While this progress is significant, further reductions are needed,” IRCC stated, adding that Canada aims to reduce temporary residents to below five per cent of the total population by the end of 2027.
Intake Targets Cut Sharply
The immigration levels plan tabled in Parliament earlier this month outlines even deeper reductions ahead. Canada plans to cut its intake of temporary residents including international students and foreign workers by nearly 43 per cent.
Under earlier projections, Canada aimed to admit 305,000 new international students annually. The revised plan lowers that target to 155,000 in 2026, with further reductions to 150,000 in both 2027 and 2028.
Impact on Students and Institutions
The policy reset is expected to have wide-ranging implications for students, educational institutions, and provincial economies that rely heavily on international enrolment. For Indian students in particular, Canada’s evolving immigration landscape marks a significant shift after more than a decade of rapid growth.
As Ottawa continues to recalibrate its approach, stakeholders across the education sector are bracing for a prolonged period of adjustment.
