Canada has been making a major push to reduce its international student intake, and the resulting numbers have been staggering.

Canada recorded some of the lowest international student arrivals in recent months, with only 2,485 new study permit holders in November 2025, according to new data from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Between January and November 2025, there were 52 per cent fewer international students compared to the same period in 2024 — down 334,845.

IRCC states that the numbers are “a clear sign that the measures we’ve put in place are working.”

“Canada is regaining control of its immigration system to restore balance and sustainability, while continuing to uphold its humanitarian commitments,” it stated in an email to Daily Hive.

But the drop is even more drastic when comparing the numbers from around the past two years.

December 2023 saw the highest number of new student arrivals in the last two years, when a total of 95,320 new students arrived in Canada. Those numbers have fallen significantly as Canada welcomed just 2,485 new study permit holders in November 2025, a difference of 97 per cent.

August is notably the busiest time as students arrive before the beginning of the fall semester, but even those numbers have been dropping. In August 2024, there were 79,745 new international students; by August 2025, Canada only welcomed 45,065 new international students.

So how did Canada achieve it in such a short time?

In just a few years, Canada introduced multiple policies to reduce the number of new international students.

As part of the Liberal government’s 2025 federal budget, Canada pledged to cut permits for international students in half, far lower than projected numbers in 2024. The government will further reduce the number of student permits issued to 155,000 in 2026 and 150,000 in 2027. It also plans to issue only 150,000 study permits in 2028.

In 2023, IRCC made acceptance letter review mandatory to prevent study permit fraud. The following year, it doubled the financial requirements for applicants, increasing the minimum amount from $10,000 (a number that remained unchanged since the early 2000s) to $20,635. Off-campus work hours for students have also been limited to 24 hours per week without a work permit.

“Our approach puts immigration on a responsible path that allows Canada to meet the needs of communities and fulfill its promise of offering opportunities to those who see this country as their home,” stated IRCC.

But across Canada, universities are feeling the impact of fewer international student enrollments.

A 2025 survey revealed that Canada saw the biggest drop in new international student enrollments compared to other countries — a 36 per cent drop in bachelor’s programs, and a 35 per cent drop in graduate programs. As a result, 60 per cent of Canadian universities said they’re preparing for budget cuts, while 50 per cent said they expect staffing reductions in 2026. As Canada loses new students, the U.K., and other European countries, and Asia are seeing an increase in new international student enrolment.

Despite Canada’s restrictive policies, interest among students hasn’t waned.

A spring 2025 survey by ApplyBoard revealed that Canada is still an attractive choice for most international students, with 94 per cent of respondents showing “some level of interest in studying in Canada.” (Daily Hive)

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