Canada sees 60% drop in number of international students: Govt data

As a result of its crackdown on migration, Canada has received 60% fewer international students between January and August 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data. 1,32,505 fewer foreign students went to study in Canada during these eight months as the country limited study permits.

“Through the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, we’re making our immigration system more responsive to the needs of the country. This includes reducing the number of students and temporary workers coming to Canada to help ease pressures on housing, infrastructure, and services,” said IRCC.

Recently, the department found over 47,000 foreign students ‘illegally staying’ in the country. They have not complied with the visa rules and have “disappeared” from the system, as per the data received from the institutions. Notably, most of them are from India.

In the last one year, Canadian government has introduced several changes in its visa and immigration policies as it aims to reduce the temporary population to less than 5%. In what seemed to be the maximum refusal rate, the Canadian government rejected international student visas, 81% of which included Indian applications. Even study permit approvals dropped to the lowest in the last five years, revealed the IRCC data. The first half of this year saw only 48,065 approvals in contrast to 1 lakh permits issued last year.

Also read Canada Work Visa: Why IRCC is making language tests must and what changes for open work permits

Canada introduced an annual cap on international students last year and a further 10% reduction in 2025. The government has also increased the cost-of-living requirement for foreign students applying for a visa.

Study in Canada: Number of international students

Here's the month-wise data on the number of foreign students who hold study permits from last year: