Ottawa: The number of Indian students getting study permits to go to Canada has dropped sharply in the first three months of 2025. Compared to the same time last year, nearly one-third fewer permits were issued.
As per the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), only 30,640 Indian students received study permits between January and March 2025. In 2024, during the same period, the number was 44,295. This means there has been a drop of about 31 per cent.
What data reveals
The total number of study permits issued to international students from all countries also saw a decline. In the first quarter of 2024, Canada had given 1,21,070 permits. But this year, the number has come down to 96,015.
This decline is not sudden. It is part of a continuing trend that started after Canadian government decided to control the number of international students coming into the country in late 2023.
In 2023, Canada issued 6,81,155 study permits overall, and 2,78,045 of them were given to Indian students, as reported by The Hindustan Times. In 2024, both numbers dropped – total permits fell to 5,16,275, and those for Indian students dropped to 1,88,465.
One of the main reasons for this change is that the Canadian government believes the large number of immigrants, including students, is putting too much pressure on housing, healthcare and public transport. Many in Canada have blamed record immigration numbers for the country’s housing crisis and rising living costs.
After April 28, 2025 federal election, newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney made it clear that Canada will stick to its strict immigration controls. He said temporary residents like students and foreign workers will be kept to no more than five per cent of the country’s total population by 2027.
On September 18, 2024, IRCC also announced that Canada will issue a maximum of 4,37,000 study permits in 2025. This is lower than the 2024 target of 4,85,000. The same cap will apply for 2026 as well.
New rules introduced by Canada
Canada has introduced many rules since the end of 2023 to slow down the intake of international students. One big change happened on December 7, 2023. The IRCC declared that students applying for a study permit after January 1, 2024, must prove they have CA$ 20,635 (about Rs 12.7 lakh) in funds. Earlier, the required amount was CA$ 10,000 (around Rs 6.14 lakh).
Another rule came in October 2023. From December 2023 onwards, Canadian colleges and universities (called Designated Learning Institutions or DLIs) must verify each student’s acceptance letter through the IRCC before the permit is processed.
These changes have made it harder and costlier for Indian students to go to Canada for studies, leading to a sharp fall in the number of permits being issued.
