Canada is witnessing one of the most dramatic declines in its international student community in recent history, as the number of foreign students studying in the country has dropped by almost 300,000 over the past two years. Official figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) show international student enrolment fell by about 27.5 % between December 2023 and November 2025, sliding from nearly one million to roughly 721,000 students.

Reports from ICEF Monitor highlight that this downward trend has been fueled by sweeping policy changes, including new caps on study permits, tighter work-permit rules, and stringent eligibility criteria — restrictions aimed at reducing temporary resident numbers toward government targets.

Other outlets like Nairametrics also point to this sharp decline as one of the most significant recorded in Canada’s post-secondary sector, affecting everything from campus finances to local economies that once relied heavily on international student spending.

This major shift comes as Ottawa pursues a broader immigration strategy that rethinks the role of foreign students in Canada’s future growth — signaling a new chapter in how the country manages global talent and domestic resources.