Canada Sees 48% Drop in Study Permits: 100,000 Fewer Visas Issued in 2024

Canada has experienced a sharp decline in international student visa approvals, issuing just under 268,000 new study permits in 2024—a 48% drop compared to 2023 and nearly 100,000 permits below the federal target. This decrease reflects both the new enrolment cap policy and a shift in international student demand away from Canada.

Visa Cap Falls Short of Its Own Target
Data submitted to ICEF Monitor by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows that the total number of study permits issued in 2024 was 267,890, significantly below the government’s original cap of 364,000 permits. The cap, introduced in January 2024, was intended to reduce international student intake by 35% compared to the previous year—but the actual decline surpassed this, reaching nearly 50%.

Impact on Institutions and Jobs
The effect of this decline has been felt widely across Canadian universities and colleges. Most institutions are reporting 30%–50% drops in foreign enrolment. So far, the sector has seen 8,580 job losses, with 60% of these occurring in public colleges in Ontario, according to ICEF Monitor.

Why Are International Students Turning Away?
Several factors appear to be driving the decrease in applications and approvals:

• Enrolment caps and uncertainty around visa outcomes
• Stricter financial requirements
• Concerns about post-study work opportunities
• Approval rates falling sharply, from 59.8% in 2023 to just 48% in 2024, meaning more than half of all applicants were rejected

The decline extends even into cap-exempt categories, such as master’s and PhD programs, showing that the broader appeal of studying in Canada may be fading.

Cap Extended to 2026 as Part of Immigration Strategy
Despite missing its initial target, the Canadian government has decided to continue the cap policy. Immigration Minister Marc Miller has extended the cap through 2026, with limits in 2025 set to be 10% lower than those in 2024.

The IRCC’s 2025–2027 immigration plan outlines a new strategy to reduce the number of temporary residents, including international students and foreign workers. The goal is to bring their share of the population down to 5% by 2027, from 7.35% in late 2024, which only slightly decreased to 7.12% by April 2025.

Prime Minister Mark Carney reiterated Canada’s commitment to hitting that 5% target by the end of 2027.

#trending #latest