Canada is experiencing its lowest level of new international student permit approvals in ten years, even below the numbers seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to new data from ApplyBoard, Ottawa’s strict intake caps for post-secondary programs are driving this major decline.
ApplyBoard projects that the Canadian government will approve only 80,000 new study permits in 2025. This marks a dramatic 62% drop from 2024 and falls well below pre-pandemic figures. For comparison, around 92,000 new permits were approved in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.
The report describes 2025 as “one of the most competitive years ever” for students hoping to study in Canada. The hardest-hit institutions are colleges, where study permit extensions now account for nearly 80% of total permits. Fewer than 30,000 new college approvals are expected nationwide.
Universities, however, are showing a modest recovery. Approval rates improved from 30% in May to 55% in August, although opportunities for new students remain tight. The data also highlights challenges for applicants from India, the Philippines, and several African nations, where approval rates remain among the lowest. Experts warn this could reduce campus diversity across the country.
For the first time, students already studying in Canada will represent nearly two-thirds of all post-secondary permits issued this year. This indicates that renewals and extensions have now overtaken new approvals.
If the current trend continues, ApplyBoard predicts that Canada’s total international student population could decline by up to 50% in 2026 as fewer newcomers arrive to replace graduating students.
Despite these challenges, 95% of international students surveyed by ApplyBoard still express interest in studying in Canada. They cite high academic quality, post-graduation work options, and the country’s multicultural environment as key attractions.
While short-term obstacles persist, confidence in Canada’s education system remains strong among global learners.
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