The number of study permits issued to Indian students by Canada dropped significantly in the first quarter of 2025.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), only 30,640 study permits were granted to Indian students from January to March 2025 — a 31% decrease from 44,295 permits issued during the same period in 2024.
Canada Reduces Study Permits Given To Indian Students
This decline reflects a wider trend of reduced international student admissions due to Canadian government efforts to limit immigration.
The total number of international study permits issued in Q1 2025 fell to 96,015, down from 121,070 in Q1 2024.
The trend of declining study permits began in late 2023 when Canada began restricting foreign student entries, citing stress on housing, healthcare, and infrastructure.
In 2023, Canada had granted 681,155 total study permits, including 278,045 to Indian students.
In 2024, these numbers declined to 516,275 total permits, with 188,465 granted to Indian nationals.
The reduction in student permits is part of a broader immigration control policy by the Canadian government.
After winning re-election in April 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that temporary residents — including international students and foreign workers — would be capped at 5% of Canada’s population by 2027.
IRCC Announced Study Permit For 2025 To Be Lowered To 437,000
On September 18, 2024, IRCC announced the study permit cap for 2025 would be lowered to 437,000, down from the 2024 target of 485,000.
This study permit cap is expected to remain unchanged in 2026.
New financial requirements have further affected student applications.
Since January 1, 2024, new study permit applicants must demonstrate proof of CA$ 20,635 (about Rs 12.7 lakh) in available funds — more than double the previous requirement of CA$ 10,000 (about Rs 6.14 lakh).
A policy implemented in October 2023 requires Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) to verify each acceptance letter before a study permit application is processed.
This verification step is intended to prevent fraud and ensure that only genuine students receive permits.
