Toronto, Canada: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data shows that the number of study permits granted to Indian applicants has dropped sharply—nearly 60% between January and August this year.
While 1,52,365 Indian students received study permits during the same period in 2024, only 62,460 permits have been approved so far this year, reflecting a 59% decline.
The slowdown is also evident in new student arrivals. Canada recorded 45,380 new international students in August 2025, and from January to August, 132,505 fewer new students arrived compared to last year.
According to figures cited by the National Post, only 9,955 permits were issued to Indian applicants between January and August this year. This is a dramatic fall from 76,930 permits in 2024 and 149,875 permits in 2023 for the same period.
Overall, Canada received 214,520 fewer international students in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024—a drop of more than 70%.
The steep decline in approvals for Indian students has surprised education stakeholders. In 2023, Indian applicants made up around 35% of Canada’s foreign student visa pool. This year, they represent just under 17%, and that too from a shrinking total applicant base.
Rejection rates have also surged. Study permit refusals for Indian students have risen to 71%, significantly higher than the overall global refusal rate of 58% so far this year
