Canada Study Permit Applications from Indians Plummet by 50% Amid Tightened Immigration Rules

Canada has seen a significant drop in study permit applications from Indian students, with numbers plummeting by over 50% in the third quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2024. According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Immigration Canada (IRCC), Indian students accounted for 16.4% of the total 146,505 study permits issued between July and September 2025, a sharp decline from the 30% share they held last year. In 2025, Indian students received 24,030 study permits, down from 52,425 in the same period in 2024. The trend is part of a broader decline in study permit applications to Indians over the past three years. In 2023, Indians received 41% of the total permits issued, while in 2024, they accounted for just over a third. This year, the figure has fallen to below 25%. The decline is linked to Canadian government policies aimed at reducing the intake of temporary residents, including international students. In November, the government projected a 7% decrease in the total number of international students issued permits next year, with a cap of 408,000 study permits to be issued in 2026. This is 16% lower than the 2024 issuance target. The immigration levels plan introduced in Parliament this month aims to sharply reduce Canada's intake of temporary residents by nearly 43%. The plan sets a target of 155,000 new international students per year, a significant reduction from the previous target of 305,000. The goal is to reduce the share of Canada's temporary population to below 5% of the total population by 2027. The decline in study permit applications from Indian students is expected to continue, with IRCC noting that the cap on study permits has been an effective tool in slowing the growth of Canada's temporary population. However, further reductions are needed to meet the government's commitment to reducing the share of temporary residents.