OTTAWA – Canada has seen a dramatic drop in the number of study permits issued to foreign students in the first half of this year, with a decrease of nearly 90,000 compared to the same period a year earlier. The decline comes after the federal government introduced a cap on international student visas in early 2024.
According to data provided to CBC News by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada issued 125,034 international study permits between January and June 2024. In the first half of 2025, that number plummeted to just 36,417. IRCC did not provide data on the number of applications for these periods.
An IRCC spokesperson, Laura Blondeau, did not comment on the cause of the drop but stated the agency is “focused on attracting top global talent to help grow our economy.” She added that the government will continue to work with provinces, territories, and educational institutions to find a sustainable path forward for international students.
The federal government began implementing stricter requirements for international students in late 2023. In 2024, it announced a 35 per cent cut to undergraduate study permits over two years. This was followed by an additional 10 per cent reduction months later, which also extended to include graduate and doctoral students who were previously exempt. The government also tightened eligibility for the post-graduate work permit program at that time.
The cap has drawn criticism from colleges and universities across the country, which have reported negative impacts on their finances, academic programs, and wider communities.
