International student arrivals plunge as Canada tightens study-permit rules
New IRCC data show a dramatic fall in study-permit issuances, steep declines from 2023 highs and mounting pressure on university budgets.
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By Torontoer Staff
Canada recorded just 2,485 new study permit holders in November 2025, one of the lowest monthly totals in recent years, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC. Between January and November 2025, the country admitted 52 per cent fewer international students than in the same period in 2024, a decline of 334,845.
IRCC called the drop "a clear sign that the measures we’ve put in place are working," saying Canada is "regaining control of its immigration system to restore balance and sustainability, while continuing to uphold its humanitarian commitments."
The scale of the decline
The fall is striking when compared with the recent peak. December 2023 saw 95,320 new student arrivals, the highest monthly total in the last two years. By November 2025 that figure had dropped to 2,485, a decline of about 97 per cent from that peak month.
Seasonal peaks have weakened as well. August is normally the busiest month as students arrive for the fall term. In August 2024 Canada welcomed 79,745 new international students; in August 2025 that number fell to 45,065.
Policy changes behind the drop
Federal policy changes over the past two years were designed to reduce the number of incoming international students and tighten oversight.
- 2023: Mandatory acceptance letter review was introduced to curb study-permit fraud.
- 2024: Financial requirements for applicants were roughly doubled, raising the minimum from about $10,000 to $20,635.
- 2024: Off-campus work hours for students were limited to 24 hours per week without a separate work permit.
- 2025 federal budget targets: the government set a path to cut study permits roughly in half, with caps of 155,000 permits in 2026, and 150,000 in 2027 and 2028.
Our approach puts immigration on a responsible path that allows Canada to meet the needs of communities and fulfill its promise of offering opportunities to those who see this country as their home.
IRCC
Impact on universities and budgets
The drop in new enrolments is already affecting post-secondary institutions. A 2025 survey found Canada experienced the largest decline in new international student enrolments compared with other destinations, with a 36 per cent fall in bachelor’s programs and a 35 per cent fall in graduate programs.
Universities report financial strain. Sixty per cent of Canadian institutions said they are preparing for budget cuts and half expect staffing reductions in 2026 if the trend continues. Institutions that relied on tuition revenue from international students face planning challenges and will need to consider program adjustments, hiring freezes, or other cost-saving measures.
- Many universities are revising enrolment targets and contingency budgets for the next academic year.
- Some institutions are accelerating international recruitment in alternate markets, while others are expanding domestic outreach.
- Budgetary pressure could affect program offerings and student services in the medium term.
Student interest and global shifts
Despite restrictions, demand for Canada has not vanished. A spring 2025 ApplyBoard survey found 94 per cent of respondents reported some level of interest in studying in Canada. That suggests policy, rather than a lack of interest, is driving the decline in arrivals.
While Canada tightens access, other destinations are capturing more international students. The U.K., parts of Europe and several countries in Asia reported increased enrolments as prospective students shift plans to countries with more accessible admission pathways.
Canada is still an attractive choice for most international students, with 94 per cent of respondents showing some level of interest in studying in Canada.
ApplyBoard spring 2025 survey
What comes next
Federal targets and tighter rules are likely to keep numbers below recent highs for several years. That will give policy makers time to assess impacts on labour markets, communities and post-secondary institutions, and it will force universities to adjust revenue models and recruitment strategies.
Institutions, students and provincial governments will watch upcoming IRCC releases closely as they plan for enrolments, budgets and services. For now, Canada has significantly reduced the flow of new international students, and the effects are already visible across the higher-education sector.
The longer-term balance between border controls, institutional stability and Canada’s role as a destination for international study will shape policymaking and university planning in the years ahead.
international studentsIRCCeducationimmigrationuniversities
