Canada’s once-booming international student pipeline has hit a dramatic low, with the latest Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) monthly data revealing a near-97% drop in new student arrivals compared with the peak period of late 2023. In November 2025, only about 2,485 new study permits were issued, down sharply from more than 95,000 in December 2023 — before Ottawa introduced stricter study-permit caps and requirements.

Officials note that the monthly “arrivals” figure is based on study permits issued rather than physical entries, but the trend reflects a dramatic contraction in Canada’s international education sector following policy changes that aim to slow the growth of temporary residents. Across January–November 2025, IRCC reported roughly 52% fewer arrivals of students and temporary workers combined compared with the same period in 2024, underscoring broad declines in migration flows.

The policy shift — part of Canada’s broader plan to reduce temporary resident intake and ease pressures on housing, health services and labour markets — has hit colleges and universities hard, particularly institutions heavily reliant on international tuition. Many smaller campuses are now grappling with lower enrolments and revenue shortfalls as the sector adjusts to reduced study-permit caps and heightened vetting requirements.