Canada's International Student Population Drops by Nearly 300,000 Due to New Immigration Policies

Canada's international student population has dropped by almost 300,000 over the past two years, with figures declining from around 995,000 in December 2023 to approximately 721,230 in November 2025. This decline is attributed to new immigration policies introduced in early 2024, including stricter eligibility criteria for post-graduate work permits and higher rejection rates for study permit applications.

The Canadian government aims to reduce the number of temporary residents, mainly international students and foreign workers, with a significant decrease in annual student arrivals projected for 2026 and beyond. The government plans to admit only 155,000 new international students in 2026, a 49% reduction from the 2025 target.

This decline is part of a broader strategy to lower the proportion of temporary residents in Canada's total population, aiming to reach 41.6 million by the end of 2026.