Canada: Over half of study permits going to international students already here

New international students coming to study in Canada may struggle to obtain study permits.According to reports, the number of study permits approved by Canada for 2025 is expected to drop by 50 per cent from last year as a large number of study permits are being issued to international students who are already in Canada and are changing schools or programs or planning to study in Canada.

According to a recent analysis by the Apply Board, the decline in new international students could spell trouble for the post-secondary education sector and enrollment will continue to decline for at least the next three years.

Apply Board CEO and co-founder Meti Bassiri said Canada should be concerned about the low number of new students because it will affect the funding of colleges and universities.