Has Canada Reached a Turning Point in Study Permit Approvals

Approval Rates in 2025

• Q2 2025 saw a 10% increase in approvals compared to Q1.
• June 2025 had the highest approval rate of the year at 39%.
• However, overall approvals in 2025 are still low at 31%, compared to 67% in 2023 and 45% in 2024.

Canada Missing Its Targets

• In the first half of 2025, 31,580 permits were approved.
• IRCC’s target for 2025 is about 300,000 permits.
• At the current pace, Canada will only reach 20% of the target unless a major change happens.

 Universities vs. Colleges

• Universities: approvals dropped from 63% (2024) → 53% (2025).
• Colleges: approvals fell harder, from 60% → 28%.
• Colleges are hit hardest due to:
  • The study permit cap.
  • PGWP restrictions (many programs no longer qualify).
• Colleges offering labour-market-focused programs (health, tech, trades) are performing better.

Country-by-Country Trends

• Ghana: approvals surged 225% compared to Q1.
• China: stable growth with 65%+ approvals.
• South Korea: strong approvals at 85%+.
• Iran: approval rate dropped by more than 50% from Q1.
• Vietnam, Nepal, Nigeria: mixed and unpredictable trends.

Policy & Processing Challenges

• A large number of new IRCC officers were hired in 2025, causing inconsistent decision-making.
• Processing backlogs may get worse before improving.
• IRCC is applying much stricter scrutiny on:
  • Financial stability
  • Program relevance
  • Immigration intent

Institutions Adapting to Change

• Institutions that:
  • Carefully vet applicants
  • Align programs with labour market outcomes
  • Work with legally backed partners
    → are seeing approval rates double the national average.

Impact on International Students

1. Harder to get approvals – especially for Indians and college applicants.
2. Program choice matters – health, IT, and skilled trades programs have higher success.
3. Country of origin matters – some nationalities (Ghana, China, Korea) are seeing far better approval rates.
4. Processing delays likely – even good applications may face backlog issues.
5. Institutions being selective – colleges and universities are rethinking recruitment strategies and focusing on high-approval regions.

For the latest updates, guidance, and expert advice on how these changes may affect you as an international student, feel free to connect with WAC Consultants.

📩 Email: info@wacconsultants.com

📞WhatsApp: +92 320 9422666