The Canadian government announced on Wednesday that it will cut international student admissions by 10% in 2025 compared to this year.
In a statement, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed that the cap for issuing study permits will be set at 437,000, down from this year’s target of 485,000. This adjusted figure will also apply to 2026. Additional 10% restrictions will affect other categories, such as temporary foreign workers and asylum claims. These changes come as housing affordability, cost-of-living concerns, and pressure on public infrastructure are partly attributed to the growing number of immigrants.
“The reality is that not everyone who wants to come or stay in Canada will be able to,” said Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship. “We are taking steps to strengthen our temporary residence programs and implement a more comprehensive immigration strategy to address today’s challenges.”
This 10% cut announcement is likely to displease stakeholders, especially higher education institutions. Global News recently reported that Universities Canada anticipates a 45 per cent drop in international student arrivals for the September term. A spokesperson warned that the situation could worsen and called for urgent action from Ottawa.
The IRCC’s decision contradicts its earlier goals, driven by the ruling Liberal Party’s electoral difficulties, after losing two federal by-elections in strongholds like Toronto and Montreal within three months. Recent polls show the opposition Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, holding a nearly 20-point lead. Poilievre has promised to reduce immigration if his party forms the government.
A recent Angus Reid Institute poll found that 48 per cent of respondents believe it would be beneficial for Canada to close its borders to immigrants. However, the policy shift has not yet had a noticeable impact on international student numbers. IRCC data shows that the number of study permits issued between January and June this year rose to 246,580, compared to 238,640 during the same period in 2023.
For India-specific permits, the number increased from 96,080 to 100,355 during the first half of the year. In 2015, before the Trudeau government reformed immigration policies, only 219,035 study permits were issued, with Indian students making up 31,920 of that total.
Officials caution that the effects of the recent 10% cut decisions will become clearer later this year, as study permit issuance from April to June fell to 125,020 from 148,140 in 2023. The drop was even more pronounced for India, where permits decreased from 70,340 to 55,940, though this is still almost double the total from 2015.
