Canada to Reduce International Student Permits by 10% in 2025

The Trudeau government also tightens work permit eligibility for spouses of students and foreign workers amid rising immigration pressures.

Canada will issue 437,000 study permits in 2025, down from 485,000 in 2024 and 509,390 in 2023.
New rules will limit work permit eligibility for spouses of master's degree students and temporary foreign workers in specific sectors.
The measures are part of a broader effort to reduce temporary residents to 5% of the total population by 2026, down from 6.8% in April 2024.
The government aims to address housing shortages and rising costs of living, which have been partially blamed on the influx of temporary residents.
Universities and colleges express concerns about financial impacts and recruitment challenges due to reduced international student numbers.