Ottawa, Canada: Indian students aiming to pursue education in Canada have been dealt a major blow, as the Canadian government has sharply cut back on the issuance of study permits. The first quarter of 2025 saw a 31% decline in permits granted compared to the same timeframe in 2024.
According to recent data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), only 30,640 study permits were granted to Indian students from January to March 2025, down from 44,295 during the same period in 2024.
This sharp decline is part of Canada's broader strategy to curb the rising influx of immigrants, a policy shift initiated in late 2023. The government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, has expressed concerns over the strain that record immigration numbers are placing on public services and infrastructure. To manage this, the government aims to limit the percentage of international students to 5% of Canada’s population by 2028.
The long-term trend also shows a steady decline in the number of Indian students receiving permits:
In 2023, Canada issued 681,155 study permits, out of which 278,045 were granted to students from India.
By 2024, the overall number of study permits decreased to 516,275, and the share issued to Indian students declined to 188,465.
In 2025, the initial target of 485,000 permits has now been slashed to 437,000, with plans to limit Indian recipients to just 100,000.
The government also hinted at further cuts in 2026.
The decline is being attributed not only to policy changes but also to stricter application guidelines introduced recently. These changes are seen as part of a calculated effort by Canada’s Liberal government to manage temporary residents and foreign workers more stringently.
The sharp fall in study permits may alter the plans of thousands of Indian students and affect Canada’s international education sector, where Indian nationals have traditionally formed the largest cohort. Experts warn that unless the policy is eased, educational institutions in Canada may see a decline in international enrollment and revenue in the coming years.
