Canada has sharply reduced the number of study permits granted to Indian students, with a nearly 31% drop recorded in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), only 30,640 Indian students received study permits between January and March 2025, down from 44,295 in the first quarter of 2024.
This decline reflects a broader trend, with total international study permits issued by Canada falling from 121,070 in early 2024 to 96,015 during the same months this year. The decrease follows a deliberate effort by the Canadian government to slow the intake of international students, which began in the last quarter of 2023.
In 2023, Canada issued a record 681,155 study permits, with Indian students making up 278,045 of that total. That figure dropped to 516,275 in 2024, with Indian numbers falling to 188,465. The reduction in permits has been linked to growing concerns about housing shortages and strain on public infrastructure, such as healthcare and transit.
Newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tightening temporary migration during his campaign. After winning the April 28 federal election, Carney stated that the number of temporary residents, including international students and foreign workers, will be capped at 5% of Canada’s total population by 2027.
This policy shift has been accompanied by a series of regulatory changes. On September 18, 2024, IRCC confirmed a new cap of 437,000 study permits for 2025, down from the 2024 ceiling of 485,000. This cap is expected to remain in place through 2026.
In addition to permit limits, financial requirements for applicants have also doubled. As of January 1, 2024, new study permit applicants must demonstrate access to CA$20,635 in funds, up from the previous CA$10,000 requirement. The government also introduced a verification system in December 2023, requiring designated learning institutions to confirm acceptance letters for all applicants.
These measures signal a tightening of Canada’s once-liberal international student framework as it aims to balance immigration with domestic economic and social pressures.
