In a significant shift in immigration policy, the Canadian government has announced plans to reduce the intake of international students by 10% in 2025. This decision comes as part of broader efforts to address the growing pressures on the country’s infrastructure, including housing, healthcare, and transportation, which have been strained by the increasing number of temporary immigrants.
According to a release by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the cap for issuing study permits will be set at 437,000 for 2025, a notable decrease from the target of 485,000 for this year. This reduction is part of a “stabilizing” approach that will also see the same limit applied in 2026.
The announcement has sparked concern among Canadian higher education institutions, which heavily rely on international students as a major source of revenue. Universities Canada, an industry group, has already expressed fears of a sharp decline in student numbers, projecting a potential 45% fall in new international enrollments for the September 2025 term.
This policy shift is also seen as a response to mounting political pressures. The ruling Liberal Party, facing declining support and recent electoral losses, appears to be recalibrating its immigration policies in response to public sentiment. A recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute revealed that nearly half of Canadians believe closing the country’s borders to immigrants would be beneficial.
Despite these measures, the immediate impact on international student numbers has not yet been fully realized. Data from the IRCC shows that the number of study permits issued in the first half of this year increased slightly compared to the same period in 2023. However, a decline in permits issued from April to June suggests that the effects of the new caps may soon begin to manifest.
Canadian officials have cautioned that the full impact of these changes will likely become evident later in the year. With the 2025 cap in place, the landscape for international students seeking to study in Canada is set to become more competitive, prompting concerns about the future of the country’s role as a global education hub.
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