On This Page You Will Find
- Why Universities Canada is sounding the alarm over the student cap
- Details of Canada’s two-year international student permit limits
- Data on study permits issued in 2023, 2024, and 2025
- Federal restrictions on spousal work permits
- Calls for a national recovery plan to restore Canada’s reputation
Canada’s cap on international students is having deeper effects than anticipated, with Universities Canada warning the country risks losing the talent it most needs.
Gabriel Miller, president and CEO of Universities Canada, said the country has proven it can reduce immigration numbers quickly, but the challenge now is whether it can retain the people it wants. In an interview with CTV News, he urged Ottawa to find a way to balance restrictions with the need to attract global talent.
Canada’s international student program has faced growing scrutiny because of housing shortages, rising asylum claims, and questions about oversight. The federal auditor general has launched a probe into the program, with a report expected in 2026.
Last year, Ottawa introduced a temporary two-year cap to cut international student numbers by 35 per cent in 2024 and a further 10 per cent in 2025. The Immigration Levels Plan released last year has a target of 305,900 permits for 2025, 2026 and 2027. Provinces were assigned quotas based on population size.
Additional measures have tightened spousal work permit eligibility, now limited to spouses of master’s degree students in programs at least 16 months long, and spouses of foreign workers in sectors with labour shortages.
Miller said nobody disputes the need for lower immigration targets, but warned the current approach is keeping out far more students than intended. Universities Canada points to visa processing delays and damage to Canada’s global reputation as reasons enrolment has fallen below federal targets.
Official data shows study permits dropped to 149,860 in the first half of 2025, down from 245,055 during the same period in 2024 and 238,425 in 2023. This leaves Canada far from its annual target of 305,900 for 2025.
Miller called on the government to develop a recovery plan that fixes visa processing, rebuilds Canada’s image, and unites businesses, governments, and educators to fill key labour gaps.
“The cap was emergency surgery,” he said. “It’s time for the patient to start recovering. Canada must remind the world it remains a great place to study, work, and invest.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Canada capped international student numbers?
Ottawa introduced a temporary cap to ease housing pressures and reduce strain on services. The goal was to cut study permit levels by 35 per cent in 2024 and a further 10 per cent in 2025.
How many study permits were issued in 2025 so far?
In the first six months of 2025, Canada issued 149,860 study permits. This is a sharp drop compared with 245,055 permits in the same period of 2024 and 238,425 in 2023.
What is Universities Canada’s main concern?
Universities Canada warns that enrolment is dropping far below the federal cap because of long visa processing times and reputational damage. They say Canada is losing top global talent.
Who can now get a spousal work permit?
Eligibility has been narrowed to spouses of master’s degree students in programs lasting at least 16 months, and to spouses of foreign workers in certain sectors with labour shortages.
What recovery steps are being suggested?
Universities Canada urges the government to improve visa processing, rebuild Canada’s global image, and partner with educators and employers to attract and keep skilled talent.
