Canada sees 50% drop in Indian study permits, $10.5B impact expected

Canada has recorded a steep diminution successful the fig of Indian planetary students receiving survey permits successful 2025. According to data published by the ICEF Monitor, determination has been a 50% year-over-year alteration successful survey licence approvals for Indian nationals.The downturn is portion of a wider inclination affecting Canada's full planetary acquisition sector. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) information shows that the fig of caller survey permits issued to Indian students dropped from 188,255 successful 2024 to conscionable 52,765 successful the archetypal 7 months of 2025. If existent trends continue, the projected full for 2025 whitethorn autumn to astir 90,454—representing a 67.5% diminution from the highest twelvemonth of 2023.Drop successful survey licence approvals and applicationsBetween January and June 2025, Canada processed 143,485 survey licence applications crossed each nationalities. Of those, 104,980 were from caller applicants. Only 31,580 permits were approved, marking an support complaint of conscionable implicit 30%. This is simply a crisp diminution from the aforesaid play successful 2024, erstwhile 223,551 caller applications were processed, and 113,368 were approved—an support complaint of 51%.

The IRCC's headdress for caller planetary students successful 2025 is acceptable astatine 316,276. However, existent support trends suggest Canada whitethorn contented lone 20% to 30% of that people by the extremity of the year. In 2024, IRCC issued 267,890 caller permits, which was already astir 100,000 beneath the cap. If this year's trajectory continues, the shortfall successful 2025 could transcend 200,000.

Sharp diminution successful arrivals and full pupil populationFrom January to July 2025, lone 44,105 caller planetary students arrived successful Canada, a driblet of 68.97% compared to 142,175 arrivals during the aforesaid play successful 2024.

The alteration is besides reflected successful the full fig of progressive survey licence holders successful Canada. As of July 2025, determination were 785,830 individuals holding survey permits, down from 1,023,785 successful January 2024—a 23.2% wide decline.In detail, the fig of radical successful Canada with a valid survey licence fell from 679,820 successful January 2024 to 499,365 by July 2025. Similarly, the fig of individuals holding some survey and enactment permits dropped from 343,965 to 286,465 during the aforesaid period.

Regional and economical impactIndian students correspond a large stock of Canada's planetary pupil population. In provinces similar Ontario, Indian nationals person historically accounted for implicit 60% of planetary enrolments. The melodramatic simplification successful permits has already led to exigency adjustments by acquisition institutions, including the instauration of scholarships and accrued online delivery.According to ICEF Monitor, the diminution is apt to effect successful an estimated CAD 10.5 cardinal nonaccomplishment successful economical contributions from Indian students alone, compared to 2023 levels. The shortfall impacts a scope of sectors, including housing, transportation, retail, and higher education.Contributing factors to the declineThe ICEF Monitor notes respective cardinal drivers down the drop. These see stricter IRCC policies, extended processing times, and rising economical barriers. Meanwhile, countries specified arsenic the UK, Australia, and the US person ramped up recruitment efforts with much favourable migration pathways and post-study enactment opportunities, intensifying planetary contention for planetary students.The effect of Canada's existent policies connected semipermanent planetary enrolment trends volition go clearer successful the months ahead.