Maple News reports that Canada is significantly behind in hitting its international student admissions target for 2025, issuing less than a third of the planned study permits in the first eight months of the year.
Between January and August 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) granted just 89,430 new study permits—only 29% of the 305,900 targeted for the year. To meet its goal, the government would need to process an additional 216,470 permits before the end of December, an unlikely feat considering seasonal patterns. For comparison, that same January–August period accounted for over 75% of all student admissions in 2024, underlining the challenge ahead.
This downturn follows a series of regulatory changes rolled out in 2024 that were specifically designed to temper the growth of Canada’s international student population. These policies form part of a broader strategy to reduce the number of temporary residents to below 5% of the national population by the end of 2026, a move aimed at alleviating pressure on housing and public services.
Among the key changes: IRCC introduced a cap on study permit allocations and revised eligibility criteria for post-graduation work permits (PGWPs). Notably, PGWPs are now restricted to graduates of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Other reforms include new language testing requirements and a significant reduction in the eligibility for spousal open work permits—now limited to spouses of students in advanced or professional programs.
The impact has been swift and significant. Study permit approvals between January and August dropped by 70% compared to the same period in 2024, translating to 132,505 fewer permits issued year-over-year. The government’s more restrictive posture is also evident in the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which for the first time includes specific targets for temporary residents.
These policy decisions represent a major shift in Canada’s approach to international education, long seen as a reliable pathway to both talent acquisition and economic growth. The federal government has signaled that quality and sustainability—instead of rapid growth—will guide future policy. As the country tightens its immigration streams, the education sector and prospective students are bracing for lasting change.
While the full-year outcome remains to be seen, current trends indicate that Canada will likely fall short of its international student goals for 2025.
Maple News will continue monitoring the situation as new data emerges and policy effects become clearer.