Canada Sees 61% drop in overseas students

The number of new international students in Canada fell sharply in 2025, according to a new report from Statistics Canada.

Canada issued 177,600 fewer study visas in 2025 than in 2024. This marks a 61% decline in new international students.

Between December 2023 and December 2025, the total number of international students in the country dropped from nearly one million to 721,230. That is a fall of 27.5%, or about 273,500 students.

The decline follows federal government policy changes. Authorities reduced international student visas by 35% in 2024. A further 10% cut followed in 2025. Another 10% reduction is planned this year.

Data from ApplyBoard, cited by NAFSA, shows Canada recorded the biggest drop in student interest among the “Big Four” English-speaking destinations. These include the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

Interest declined across Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. The drop among Asian students was 4.8%. This is significant because students from China and India form the two largest international student groups in Canada.

The sharp decline has created large budget deficits across Canada’s higher education sector. Colleges have been hit hardest.