Canada sets annual target of 150,000 new international students for 2027-2029

The target is lower than the 155,000 set for 2026 and less than half of the 305,900 set for 2025.

Edited by Sandeep Gupta, Editor · SafarSamachar Desk✔ Approved by Sandeep Gupta14 Nov 2026, 5:23 pm IST

Illustration

Illustration: SafarSamachar Pix Desk, created with AI assistance. Not a photograph of the event.

Key facts at a glance

1The student target applies only to new international students entering under the International Student Programme
2The figure does not include study permit extensions or applications made from within Canada
3Canada's overall target for new temporary resident arrivals is 370,000 annually from 2027 to 2029
4Students will account for about 40% of the 370,000 annual temporary resident arrivals
5The figures for 2028 and 2029 may be confirmed or adjusted by November 1 of the following year

Canada has set an annual target of 150,000 new international students for the years 2027 to 2029. This is lower than the 155,000 set for 2026 and significantly less than the 305,900 target for 2025.

The student target applies only to new international students entering under the International Student Programme. Canada's overall target for new temporary resident arrivals is 370,000 annually from 2027 to 2029, with students accounting for about 40% of that number.

The government has maintained its target of 220,000 new temporary workers annually. Students and workers will together account for 370,000 temporary resident arrivals each year. The plan also keeps permanent resident admissions at 380,000 annually between 2027 and 2029, with economic immigration making up 64.4% of those admissions.

The figures for 2028 and 2029 may be confirmed or adjusted by November 1 of the following year. The target is not an entirely new reduction, as the previous plan had already set it for 2027 and 2028.

What this means for Indian travellers

Indian students planning to study in Canada should note that the annual intake under the International Student Programme will be capped at 150,000 from 2027 to 2029.

Sources

This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above and read and approved for publication by Sandeep Gupta on 14 Nov 2026; the figures come from the reports listed above. Read our editorial policy.Rules and schedules change - confirm with the airline or embassy before you travel. Spotted an error? Tell us.