International student arrivals to Canada have fallen by approximately 60% to 64% [1, 2], according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
This decline marks a significant shift in Canada's immigration landscape. The reduction reflects the impact of revised student-visa policies and tighter federal measures designed to manage the volume of newcomers entering the country [5].
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the data covers the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years [1]. The drop is most pronounced among students from India. In 2023, Indian students represented 51.6% of all incoming international students [1]. Following the policy changes, the share of Indian students among new arrivals fell to 8.1% [1].
Regional data shows the trend is widespread across the provinces. British Columbia saw a 66% decline in international student approvals [5].
Broader enrollment trends also indicate a downward trajectory. International student enrollments fell four percent in 2024-2025 [2]. That decline accelerated to 26% for the 2025-2026 period [2].
These figures follow a period of rapid growth in the international education sector. The current contraction is a direct result of the government's effort to align student arrivals with the country's housing, and infrastructure capacity [5].
“International student arrivals to Canada have fallen by approximately 60% to 64%.”
The dramatic reduction in student arrivals, particularly from India, indicates a strategic pivot by the Canadian government to curb rapid population growth. By tightening visa approvals, Canada is prioritizing sustainable infrastructure and housing over the previous high-growth model of international recruitment, which may fundamentally alter the demographic makeup of its campuses and future labor market.
