Canada Decreases Study Permits for International Students

Canada’s approval of new international student permits has dropped to its lowest level in a decade, falling even below the numbers seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. New data from ApplyBoard shows that Ottawa’s strict caps on post-secondary intakes are driving this sharp decline.

ApplyBoard projects that the federal government will approve just 80,000 new study permits in 2025. This marks a 62% drop from 2024 and is far below pre-pandemic levels. For comparison, Canada approved about 92,000 new permits at the height of the pandemic in 2020.

The report warns that 2025 will be “one of the most competitive years ever” for students hoping to start their studies in Canada. Colleges are feeling the biggest impact, with extensions now making up nearly 80% of all study permits. Fewer than 30,000 new approvals are expected for college programs nationwide.

Universities are seeing a modest recovery. Approval rates rose from 30% in May to 55% in August, but opportunities for new students remain limited. The report also highlights that students from India, the Philippines, and several African countries face the lowest approval rates, which could threaten campus diversity across Canada.

For the first time, students already in Canada will account for nearly two-thirds of all post-secondary permits issued this year. This shift shows how extensions have overtaken new approvals.

If current trends continue, ApplyBoard predicts that Canada’s total international student population could shrink by up to 50% in 2026, as fewer new students arrive to replace those graduating.

Despite the slowdown, 95% of international students surveyed by ApplyBoard say they still want to study in Canada. They cite the country’s academic standards, post-graduation work opportunities, and multicultural environment as key reasons.

While short-term challenges remain, student confidence in Canada’s long-term value is still strong.

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The post Canada Decreases Study Permits for International Students appeared first on ProPakistani.