Canada is issuing far fewer international study permits this year as a federal cap and tougher approval requirements reshape the sector.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said that only 36,417 study permits were issued between January and June 2025, compared to 125,034 during the same period last year.
Applications have also declined. IRCC received 302,795 applications in the first half of this year, compared to 398,675 in the first half of 2024, and 575,535 in 2023. Laura Blondeau, a spokesperson for Immigration Minister Lena Diab, said the drop in applications in 2025 is a clear sign that the measures are working to reduce the number of international students studying in Canada.
The federal government introduced the cap on new study permits in 2024. The number of permits issued fell by 48 per cent compared with 2023, while approval rates dropped from nearly 60 per cent to 48 per cent.
Education agents say applicants are now facing longer processing times and higher rejection rates. Approval rates vary widely depending on the country of origin and the type of institution.
The recruitment platform ApplyBoard reported that the most common refusal in 2024 was that officers doubted students would not leave Canada after graduation. Financial requirements are another hurdle; in January 2024, Ottawa doubled the cost-of-living requirements from $10,000 to $20,635, with another increase to $22,895 set for Sept. 1.
An analysis by BorderPass, an education technology firm, found approval rates improved modestly in early 2025, but remain uneven. Applications from China are being approved at rates above 65 per cent, while rejection rates for Indian applicants are increasing.
Approval rates are higher at universities than at colleges. Universities averaged 45 to 59 per cent in the first half of 2025, compared with 23 to 33 per cent at colleges. BorderPass says universities are trending upward, while colleges face more volatility.
Universities, such as Wilfrid Laurier University, say they remain committed to international recruitment despite the tighter cap.
“At Laurier, we value our international students and the diverse global perspectives they bring to our campus,” said Aonghus Kealy, Communications and Media Relations Manager at Wilfrid Laurier University.
“Laurier recognizes the uncertainty for students that comes with international study permit delays,” added the Laurier International Student Support (ISS) team. “The team communicates with students throughout the process and offers a variety of supports, including accommodating later fall term or winter term start dates where possible for students facing delays and ongoing academic advising support.”
If current trends hold, Canada could see about 290,000 study permit applications this year — roughly half the 2023 total. With approval rates near 50 per cent, the number of permits granted in 2025 is expected to fall significantly below last year’s level and well under the official enrolment cap.
Contributed Photo/Sangjun Han/News Director
