A new analysis of Canadian government data shows that approvals for international study permits are expected to drop by almost half in 2024. The number of study permit applications processed by the IRCC fell by 54% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same time in 2023. According to ApplyBoard’s report, the total number of study permits for 2024 is expected to decrease by 39% compared to 2023.
The Number of Canadian Study Permits has been Decreased
It is assumed that the student visa success rate in Canada is going to fall by half in 2024.
The report shows that about 230,000 new study permits are expected to be processed in the second half of 2024. With the government’s approval rate for study permits at 51%, around 231,000 new permits could be approved in 2024.
This is about 47% lower than the 436,600 study permits approved in 2023, according to ApplyBoard’s report.
Looking ahead to 2025, ApplyBoard’s CEO, Meti Basiri, predicts that study permit approvals will return to levels seen in 2018 and 2019, in the mid-200,000s.
This expected drop is much bigger than what Canada’s immigration minister, Marc Miller, predicted when announcing a two-year limit on new study permits in January.
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What is the Effect of Decreasing Study Permits in Canada?
For 2024, the cap is expected to lead to about 364,000 approved study permits, which is 35% less than in 2023,” said Marc Miller during the announcement.
The report also showed that the average approval rate for study permits dropped from 58% to 51% between the first half of 2023 and 2024, lower than the government’s 60% approval goal for 2024.
The report noted that even if the approval rate improves in July–December 2024, the demand for study permits would also need to rise to meet the target.
With around 230,000 study permits expected to be processed in the second half of the year, even a 100% approval rate wouldn’t be enough, as only 114,000 study permits were approved in the first half of 2024. ApplyBoard predicts a 50% decline in permits for capped post-secondary programs and a 24% reduction for programs not affected by the cap.
The Number of Student Applications in Canada has Also Decreased!
The number of international students coming to Canada from key countries has dropped significantly this year. For Indian students, who have traditionally made up a large part of Canada’s international student population, study permit approvals have been cut in half in the first half of the year. Other countries have seen even bigger declines: study permit approvals for Nigerian students have dropped by over 70%, for students from the Philippines by 65%, and for students from Nepal by 76%. New requirements, such as needing over CDN$20,000 in savings and restrictions on work opportunities for students in certain programs, are leading international students to consider other countries. Interest in studying in Canada seems to be decreasing, with global searches for “study in Canada” falling nearly 20% compared to 2023, according to the report. However, some countries like China and Ghana are seeing a small increase in approved study permit applications.
To get more updated information about studying abroad in Canada, stay tuned to AIMS Education.
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