Canada Faces Sharp Drop in Student Intake Due to Study Permit Caps
📅 April 2026
Canada is experiencing a sharper-than-expected decline in international student intake following the introduction of study permit caps and processing changes. In some provinces, student numbers have dropped by as much as 66%, significantly higher than the initially targeted 18% reduction.
The changes are part of efforts to better manage international student inflow. However, the steep decline has raised concerns among students and educational institutions.
To address this, authorities have set a new target of approximately 155,000 new study permits for 2026, aiming to bring stability to the system.
