The number of Indians with study permits for Canadian institutions has hit its lowest quarterly level since the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The data shows that between January and March this year, there were 17,540 Indians with study permits, which is 24.5% of the total 71,560. This is the lowest quarterly number since the October-December quarter of 2020, when the figure stood at 16,760.
The figure for the first quarter was also over 40% lower than that for the corresponding period in 2025, when there were 29,950 Indians out of a total of 93,930 or about 32%.
The overall annual intake has also plummeted to nearly half: From 1,88,140 in 2024 to 94,025 last year.
IRCC has noted that it is reducing international students numbers to a “sustainable level”. The government has capped international student numbers, made acceptance letter review mandatory to prevent study permit fraud and raise financial requirements.
The decline follows policies instituted in the last quarter of 2023, as further restrictions were ordered in the months amid concerns in the country over a surge in temporary immigrants contributing towards a spike in housing affordability and placing pressure on public infrastructure.
