Canada has always been a top destination for students. But new policies to control temporary immigration have reduced the number of study permits issued each year. As a result, many countries, including India, are seeing a significant drop in students heading to Canada. Scroll down to know more details!
Drop In Study Permits In Canada
Between July and September 2025, Indian students got 24,030 study permits, making up just 16% of all permits issued. According to Hindustan Times, last year, during the same period, they received 52,425 permits, nearly 30% of the total. This shows a clear drop in the number of Indian students going to Canada.
The drop is clear in monthly numbers, too. In September 2025, Indian students got 8,400 study permits out of 49,350, which is also less than 14,385 out of 46,230 in September 2024. Over the past three years, the number of Indian students getting study permits has steadily fallen—from 41% of all permits in 2023 to just over a third in 2024, and now below 25% in 2025.
Also Read: Indian Applicants Now Face A 99-Day Wait To Get A Canada Visitor Visa; Heres Why
Why Study Permits Are Dropping
The drop in study permits happened after Canada changed its policies in late 2023. The government was worried that too many temporary residents, including students, were putting pressure on housing and public services. To control this, they introduced limits on the number of study permits issued each year.
In November 2025, the government announced that it would reduce the number of international student permits by seven per cent in 2026. As per Hindustan Times, a total of 4,08,000 permits will be issued, including 1,55,000 for new students and 2,53,000 for returning students. This is lower than 4,37,000 permits in 2025 and far below the 4,85,000 issued in 2024.
Under the new immigration plan, Canada will cut the number of temporary residents, including students and workers, by nearly 43%. Earlier, the country planned to admit 3,05,000 new international students each year. The new plan lowers this to 1,55,000 in 2026, and further down to 1,50,000 in 2027 and 2028.
We can say that these measures show Canada’s efforts to control temporary immigration while still allowing international students to study in the country.
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Also Read: Canada’s New Citizenship Rules Under Bill C-3 To Offer Big Relief To Indians; Here’s How
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