Canada has set an annual target of 1.5 lakh new international student arrivals for 2027–2029. The nationwide restriction signals tighter temporary immigration controls while Indian applicants remain eligible.
Following similar measures introduced by the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, Canada has announced a further restriction on the admission of international students, setting an annual target of 1.5 lakh new student arrivals for the next three years. The decision forms part of the country's new Immigration Levels Plan for 2027–2029, released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) under the government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney.The revised target reflects Canada's continued efforts to regulate the number of temporary residents entering the country amid growing pressure on housing, public services and infrastructure.The measures are not confined to international students, but also extend to temporary foreign workers and other categories of temporary residents.ANNUAL TARGET SET AT 1.5 LAKH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTSUnder the new immigration plan, Canada has proposed a total of 3.7 lakh new temporary resident arrivals annually over the three-year period.
International students are expected to account for approximately 40 per cent of this proposed intake, while temporary foreign workers will make up the remaining 60 per cent. The annual target of 1.5 lakh new international students represents a further reduction from the 1.55 lakh target set for 2026.
The revised figure indicates that the Canadian government intends to maintain tighter control over the number of students entering the country rather than return to the higher admission levels witnessed in previous years.India remained Canada's leading source country for international students in 2025, accounting for 24.6 per cent of study permits that became effective during the year. The figures supplied in the reported data indicate a substantial decline in the number of Indian students entering Canada.The number of Indian study permit holders whose permits became effective fell from 2,78,045 in 2023 to 1,88,465 in 2024, before declining further to 94,025 in 2025.This downward movement has taken place following Canada's introduction of a national cap on international student admissions in 2024, accompanied by stricter requirements for verifying study permit applications.INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ARRIVALS FALL BY NEARLY 71 PER CENTThe reduction in student arrivals has also been reflected in Canada's overall immigration figures.
According to IRCC data, the country recorded 65,240 new international student arrivals of all nationalities between January and August 2026, compared with 2,21,680 during the corresponding period in 2024.This represents a decline of approximately 71 per cent over the two-year period. The figures suggest that the restrictions introduced in 2024, alongside subsequent changes to the study permit system, have coincided with a considerable reduction in the number of students arriving in Canada.The decline has been particularly significant for Indian students, although the revised national targets apply equally to applicants from all source countries.Under the 2027–2029 plan, temporary workers will account for 2.2 lakh of the 3.7 lakh proposed annual arrivals, while international students will account for 1.5 lakh.
The worker allocation includes 1.7 lakh arrivals under the International Mobility Program and 50,000 under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.The government has also maintained its annual target of 3.8 lakh permanent resident admissions throughout the three-year period. These figures indicate that Canada intends to continue accepting immigrants while exercising greater control over the number of temporary residents entering its territory.Indian applicants will therefore remain eligible to apply for Canadian study permits, subject to the prevailing admission, documentation and immigration requirements.
The coming years will determine how the revised targets are implemented and how they affect the movement of students from India and other countries.- Ends