It’s not that easy to get a Canada student visa anymore.
In October 2024, Canada announced its 2025 to 2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which revealed that new study permits will be reduced by 10% from the 2024 target of 485,000 to 437,000 in 2025 and 2026.
A month later, Canada halted the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and the Nigeria Student Express stream (NSE) – two fast-tracked study permit processing to international students from select countries launched in 2018 and 2020, respectively.
The SDS, in particular, used to serve residents of 14 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.
Through this, applicants could get their Canada student visa processed in 20 calendar days instead of the regular three months, as stated on the official government site.
What’s behind these policy changes? Here’s what we know so far:
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney supports a more restrained approach to immigration — so brace yourself for potential changes to the Canada student visa requirements in the future. Source: AFP
Canada student visa: Three years of delay
Only 30,640 Canada student visas were issued in the first quarter of 2025 according to the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) – a nearly 31% drop from the same period in 2024, when 44,295 permits were issued.
To put things in perspective, Canada issued 681,155 study permits in 2023, and Indian students accounted for 278,045 of them – approximately 40% of the total.
But in 2024, the total number of Canada student visas approved dropped to 516,275 (about 24%). Similarly, the number of approved visas for Indian students also fell to 188,465, which comprises around 36% of the total number.
That’s around one in three Indian applicants not getting their Canada student visa.
The Canada student visa rules changed in 2024, and now you’ll need a substantial increase in the proof of funds to secure your visa. Source: AFP
Another major change to the Canada student visa requirement to know about
Since January 1, 2024, international students must show proof of 20,635 Canadian dollars (US$14,925) in available funds — more than double the previous amount of CA$10,000 (US$7,232).
The Canadian government states that the initial fund requirement of CA$10,000 (US$7,232) had not changed since the early 2000s and thus has not kept up with the rising cost of living throughout the years, resulting in students arriving in Canada only to learn that their funds aren’t adequate.
Thus, the new financial requirement was set. This new amount, the CA$20,635, is 75% of the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO), the minimum income that an individual needs to avoid spending a greater portion of money on necessities.
TLDR: aside from having proof of funds to support you through your first year of tuition and travel costs in Canada, you’ll also need the additional CA$20,635 (US$14,925) to have your Canada student visa approved.
Ultimately, if you’ve gotten this far, you’ll want to know how you can still make your way to study in some of the best universities and programmes that Canada has to offer.
Luckily for you, the universities really want you there too – and they’re doing all they can to support you to get here.
How universities are helping international students get their Canada student visas approved
University of Toronto
Leading the pack is the University of Toronto, the country’s best-ranked higher education institution on the QS World University Rankings 2025 at #25. Across the university’s three campuses, you’ll find close to 100,000 students from over 180 countries enrolled and thoroughly supported by the services available.
Here, the Centre for International Experience (CIE) covers all you need about immigration, the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP), and other important things to note.
More specific to the first point, you’ll find plenty of help from the International Student Immigration Advisors (ISIAs), who are dedicated to providing support and advice about applying for and maintaining temporary status in Canada through your study permits, work permits, visas, and more. On top of that, there are campus-specific Authorised Immigration Advisors too.
The university’s website for prospective international students also covers country-specific information you’ll want to know, and if you ever need a little more help, they host frequent workshops, events, and recordings that’ll walk you through your burning questions about moving to Canada to study at their school.
You’ll have to overcome a few barriers before you can get your Canada student visa approved, but these universities will provide ample support. Source: AFP
The University of British Columbia
With eight Nobel laureates, 65 Olympic medals won, and 75 Rhodes Scholars, it’s little surprise that many to join the University of British Columbia. Across the university, you’ll find international students making up 27.7% and 19.7% of the total intakes at the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, respectively.
Any questions about life as an international student can be directed to the International Student Advising. Here, advisors are Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors who are more than prepared to support you in your experience as a UBC international student.
On top of that, you’ll have a chance to join the online application review courses to go over your documents and avoid common mistakes made – something that can significantly help you reduce the time it takes to process your Canada student visa.
UBC’s Student Affordability Task Force (SATF) Implementation Committee, led by students, academics, and faculty at UBC, addresses concerns about the cost of attending university.
To date, they’re working on multiple targets, one of it being expanding need-based aid for international students. Their most recent success comes in building a multi-year tuition framework which lets international students know beforehand how much their tuition will be for each year of study.
There’s much to explore and discover once you’ve secured your Canada student visa. Source: AFP
McGill University
Ranked #29 globally on the QS World University Rankings 2025 is McGill University, this is where you’ll find the highest proportion of international students among Canada’s research universities. Here, nearly 30% of students come from over 150 countries, and you could easily be one of them through the comprehensive support offered by the university.
Your one-stop shop here is the International Student Services (ISS). Questions about immigration, your health and wellbeing, and even those about the programmes at McGill are welcome here.
More specifically, you’ll find support, advice and resources on applying for temporary immigration documents and maintaining student immigration status as well as the necessary support to deal with your International Health Insurance.
ISS also offers various programmes and events, like the Themed Virtual Advising Drop-In Sessions, which allow you to ask an immigration advisor for advice and hear from other students who may have similar questions.
There are also more than a handful of past webinar recordings detailing topics like Immigration Essentials and the CAQ (Québec Acceptance Certificate) 101 for you to browse.
As long as you submit all the right and necessary documents for your Canada student visa, you’ll get it approved in no time. Source: AFP
Bishop’s University
As the only English-language university in Quebec outside of Montréal, Bishop’s University has its fair share of international students. In fact, 19% of the student body here is made up of them, representing over 74 different countries.
Here, two Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors can help advise you from your admission into Bishop’s up to your graduation. From immigration and renewing documents to work authorisations, you’ll have guidance should you run into any challenge.
The advisors also host webinars and workshops for new international students preparing for their arrival and for returning students on legal and administrative issues related to their status – so there’s something for all international students, regardless of how long you’ve been at the university.
Finding the right university to support you through the process of applying for your Canada student visa can make or break the experience. Source: AFP
Dalhousie University
Founded in Nova Scotia in 1818, Dalhousie University is today home to around 23% of international students representing over 115 countries.
Here, the International Centre offers immigration advice from licensed advisors who will provide immigration guidance and support to international students and student researchers in a myriad of ways, be it in-person, virtually, or through drop-in appointments.
And for those overwhelmed by the sheer volume of news and media outlets reporting the latest information about immigration to Canada, Dalhousie’s International Centre helps you keep everything organised and in one place via the Immigration Updates page.
