Canada study permit approvals lowest in 5 years, 52% drop from last year: IRCC data

Study in Canada: Study permit approvals in Canada have dropped to their lowest in five years, with just 48,065 permits issued in the first half of (Quarter 1 and 2) 2025. The figure represents a 52% decline from the same period last year, when nearly 1 lakh permits were approved, according to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data.

The second quarter of 2025 proved particularly stark, recording just 17,885 approvals – the lowest quarterly figure until now, and a sharp contrast to 70,300 approvals in 2023 and 55,660 in 2024.

This drop comes in the wake of Canada introducing stricter measures to manage international student intake, including a nationwide cap on study permits starting in 2024.

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Canada Student Visa: Five-year trend

From 2021 to 2024, Canada study permit approvals rose steadily. The first half of 2021 saw 53,150 permits, increasing to 82,180 in 2022; then 96,025 in 2023, and peaking at 99,950 in 2024. The second quarter of 2023 recorded the highest intake, with 70,300 study permits issued. This upward trend has now reversed sharply in 2025.

Study Visa Canada: Approvals in Q1, Q2 (2021–2025)

Source: IRCC

The second quarter of 2025 is particularly low at just 17,885 permits, far below any year since 2021.

Study Visa Canada: Reasons for decline

This decline follows Canada's decision last year to cap study permits as part of a two-year plan to manage student intake and ease pressure on housing and services.

In January last year, Canada announced a cap on new study permits for two years, limiting approvals to about 3.64 lakh permits per year. The goal was to stabilise the number of international students while provinces and territories address housing shortages, rising living costs, and strain on public services.

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IRCC had stated that this cap is a temporary step to ensure the student programme remains sustainable.

Also, late that year, Canada announced it would cut down on international students by 10% in 2025. It introduced stricter work permit rules and new language requirements. It further introduced new language requirements for open work permits which will be applicable from 2026.

Meanwhile, Canada had also doubled its cost of living study permit for international students from January 1, 2024. Students had to show 20,635 dollars in addition to the tuition fees and travel expenses.