Canadian study permit applications plummet 50% in the first half of 2025, challenging enrollment targets

New data reveals a dramatic 50% decline in Canadian study permit applications during the first half of 2025, with only 143,485 applications processed compared to 290,635 in the same period last year. This significant reduction, coupled with approval rates hovering around 48%, suggests Canada may fall considerably below its official enrollment cap for 2025. While approval patterns vary by country and institution type — with universities (45-59% approval) outperforming colleges (23-33%) — the overall trend indicates that Canada's international education sector continues to face challenges that began with the implementation of the foreign student enrollment cap in 2024.

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