Please note that the study permit data provided below is a tally of all study permit holders in Canada in 2024 – both new and existing. The policy changes made by IRCC in the past year apply to new study permit holders only. Once more students who were already studying in Canada prior to the policy changes start graduating, the significant drop in new study permits being issued will become more apparent in the 2025 (and beyond) data on total study permit holders.
Where do inbound students come from?
At the end of 2024, Canada saw a 4% decline in international students in Canada, a sharp contrast to the 29% growth from 2022 to 2023.
Notable Decline in Top Sending Countries
Note: These figures represent year over year decline from 2023 to 2024.
Where do international students go?
Top three reasons international students choose Canada2
1
Canada’s reputation as a safe and stable country
2
The reputation and quality of the education system in Canada
3
Canada offers a society that (generally) is tolerant and not discriminatory
70% of international students plan to apply for a post-graduate work permit3
57% of international students plan to apply for permanent residence in Canada4
1 Unless otherwise specified, CBIE uses Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data.
2, 3, 4 CBIE International Student Survey, 2023
