Key Takeaways
- Student visa approval rates in Canada for university bachelor’s programs have surged in 2025, with a 57% approval rate from January to August 1, 2025.
- This represents a 16% increase from the full year of 2024 and a higher approval rate than other post-secondary levels.
- Undergrad student visa approvals increased in nearly every province in Canada, with Quebec and Alberta experiencing the highest approval rate increases.
- Approval rates are rebounding across a majority of key student populations, with 13 out of 20 leading student populations seeing improved approval rates.
- Emerging student populations, such as Nigeria, Pakistan, and Egypt, saw meaningful growth in approval rates.
Introduction to the Latest Approval Data
People hoping to obtain a student visa in Canada may have some hope based on the latest approval data. ApplyBoard, a Canadian educational tech company, released a new analysis on Thursday, revealing what it says is a “significant and unexpected bright spot” in Canada’s international education sector. According to the report, student visa approval rates in Canada for university bachelor’s programs surged in 2025, rebounding sharply after last year’s declines. This increase in approval rates is a welcome sign for international students looking to study in Canada, and it may indicate a healthy revitalization of regional study options.
Undergrad Student Visa Approval Rates by Province
The report found that undergrad student visa approvals increased in nearly every province in Canada in 2025. Nine of the 10 provinces saw an uptick in bachelor’s approval rates compared to the full year of 2024. British Columbia and Ontario saw the highest approval rates for new undergraduate applicants during the first eight months of 2025, while Quebec and Alberta experienced the highest approval rate increase compared to full-year 2024. Quebec and Alberta’s approval rates went up 22 and 13 per cent, respectively. This broad improvement signals that the bachelor’s degree is performing well across different provincial regulatory environments, allowing partners to diversify their student placements with renewed confidence.
Bachelor’s Approval Ratings by Country
When it comes to approval ratings based on country, ApplyBoard found that those rates are rebounding across a majority of key student populations. Of the 20 leading student populations for undergrad applicants, 13 saw approval rates improve in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the full year of 2024. ApplyBoard says more encouraging data is an upward trajectory seen among key emerging student populations. While student populations from Indonesia, Japan, and Hong Kong are still dependable, with approval rates above 90 per cent, many countries that have historically faced more challenging approval rates saw meaningful growth. For example, the approval rate for Nigerian students improved by 10 percentage points over the full year 2024, while approval rates for Pakistan and Egypt also climbed substantially.
Analysis and Implications
The analysis sourced data from January to August 2025 from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). All data in the report is for new study permits only. ApplyBoard does note that study permit applications for undergraduate level studies have historically had higher approval ratings during January through August compared to September to December. This means that the full-year 2025 approval rates may still dip by a few percentage points. Nevertheless, even with a modest seasonal correction, this part of the sector will likely finish well ahead of where it was in 2024, reinforcing the university route as a dependable choice for students planning their future in Canada.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
This data comes after Ottawa announced that it would slash international student permits in half as part of the 2025 federal budget. Despite this announcement, the latest approval data suggests that the international education sector in Canada is experiencing a significant and unexpected bright spot. The surge in student visa approval rates for university bachelor’s programs is a positive sign for international students looking to study in Canada. As the sector continues to evolve, it will be important to monitor approval rates and other trends to understand the impact of policy changes and other factors on the international education landscape in Canada. With the university route remaining a dependable choice for students, Canada is likely to remain a popular destination for international students in the years to come.
