Canada has drastically reduced the number of study permits granted to Indian students in early 2025, following the introduction of tighter visa rules in January. According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), only 30,640 study permits were issued to Indian students between January and March — a sharp 31% decline compared to the same period in 2024.
This drop is part of a broader move by Canada to limit the number of international students entering the country. In 2023, Canada issued 681,155 study permits, with Indian nationals receiving 278,045 of them. That number fell to 188,465 in 2024, and the downward trend has continued into 2025.
The policy shift is driven by a housing shortage and growing strain on Canada’s healthcare and transport infrastructure. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration has set a goal to ensure that temporary residents, including international students and foreign workers, do not exceed 5% of the national population by 2028.
To achieve this, Canada has capped the number of new study permits at 437,000 for 2025, down from 485,000 in 2024.
Indian students, who have historically formed the largest group of international students in Canada — making up 41% of the total in 2022 — are among the most affected by these changes.
New Canadian Study Visa Rules for 2025:
- Applicants must be accepted by a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada
- They must prove they have enough funds to cover tuition, housing, and living expenses for themselves and any dependents
- They must not have a criminal record and must follow Canadian laws
- A medical exam may be required to confirm they are in good health
- Applicants must convince immigration officers of their intention to return home after their studies