The number of foreign student permits granted to Indian applicants has decreased by almost 60% so far this year, till August, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
As against 1,52,365 study permits issued to Indian students between January and August 2024, this year, only 62,460 study permits have been issued, a fall of 59%.
New student arrivals to Canada were 45,380 in August 2025. 132,505 fewer new students arrived between January and August 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Data obtained between January and the end of August of this year, 9,955 permits were granted to Indian applicants. This contrasts with 76,930 during the same period last year and 149,875 during the same period in 2023, reports the National Post.
In comparison to the same period in 2024, 214,520 fewer new international students arrived in Canada in the first half of 2025, over a 70% fall in the number of international students.
The significant decrease in Indian students not receiving study permits in 2025 has come as a surprise. In 2023, Indian students represented approximately 35% of foreign student visa applicants, but this year they account for just under 17% of a diminished applicant pool.
The study permit denial rate has also shot up for Indian students. Applications from Indian students face a higher rejection rate, with 71% being denied compared to an average of 58% from applicants of all countries combined this year.
Canada is actively working to reduce the number of foreign temporary workers and international students entering the nation. For 2025, Canada reduced the number of permits for students by 10 per cent from the previous year, with a cap of 437,000. This was the second year in a row to see reductions, after concerns that high levels of immigration were putting pressure on healthcare and education services, and driving up housing costs.
For 2025, IRCC plans to issue a total of 437,000 study permits, which represents a 10% decrease from the 2024 cap.
Canada had also increased financial requirements for foreign students. In 2024, a single applicant had to show $20,635 in savings, and from September 1, 2025, an additional $2,000 is required. The minimum funds for a family of one, covering first-year tuition and travel, have risen from $20,635 to $22,895.
The discontinuation of the Student Direct Stream, an expedited study visa processing effort for applicants wishing to study at a post-secondary designated learning institution, in November 2024, is another reason discouraging international students from choosing Canada.
