Canada has recorded a dramatic and historic decline in new international student permits following tighter immigration rules, according to the latest data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The figures show a 97% drop from the peak recorded in late 2023, marking one of the sharpest contractions ever seen in the international education sector.

IRCC data reveal that only 2,485 new study permits were issued in November 2025, compared with 95,320 approvals in December 2023, a period that coincided with a surge ahead of the winter intake and represented the highest monthly total on record. The steep decline reflects the impact of policy changes introduced to curb the rapid growth of international students in Canada.

The immigration department clarified that its “new student arrivals” data refer to study permits issued in a given month, not the number of students who physically entered Canada during that period. The figures also include only first-time approvals, excluding permit extensions, asylum seekers, and existing international students already in the country.

According to IRCC, the data are designed to measure new pressure on housing, healthcare, and public services, rather than the overall size of Canada’s international student population. The sharp reduction signals a major shift in Canada’s approach to international education and is expected to have significant implications for schools, students, and education-related businesses worldwide.

Observers say the numbers confirm that Canada has entered a new, more restrictive era for international students, with competition for study permits now significantly higher than in previous years.