Canada to limit international student permits for second year in 2025

Canada will cap the number of international student permits issued in 2025 to 437,000, marking a 10% reduction from the 2024 limit, according to the Immigration Ministry. The move aims to ease strain on housing, healthcare, and other public services.

The cap, first introduced in 2024, follows concerns that rapid population growth due to immigration has exacerbated a housing shortage. In 2023, over 650,000 study permits were issued, bringing the total number of international students to more than a million—three times the figure from a decade ago.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who plans to resign in March, had pledged to reduce immigration levels amid declining public support for newcomers. New measures include requiring master’s and post-doctoral students to submit Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letters, which confirm their inclusion in the federal cap. These letters were introduced in 2024 as part of the permit application process.

While international students face higher tuition fees, their economic contributions are significant. However, the government has emphasized the need to balance these benefits with infrastructure and service demands.