Canada is witnessing a record surge in asylum claims from international students, despite the federal government’s aggressive efforts to curb study permit approvals. New data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows that more than 20,000 international students filed refugee claims in 2024—double the number from the year before and six times higher than in 2019. The pace hasn’t slowed in 2025, with 5,500 claims filed in the first quarter alone, marking a 22% year-over-year increase.
The rising number of student asylum seekers comes amid tighter immigration policies, including a 40% reduction in new study permit approvals announced last year. The federal cap now limits annual study permit approvals to around 360,000 in an effort to ease pressure on housing, social services, and public infrastructure.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, continuing the restrictive immigration trajectory of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, reaffirmed these limits at his first press conference on May 2. Carney emphasized that the share of international students and temporary foreign workers will be brought down to under 5% of Canada’s population by 2027—compared to about 7% today.
“This is about stabilizing the system to make it more sustainable,” Carney said, as Canadians continue to grapple with housing affordability and rising demand on healthcare and education services.
Legal experts say the growing number of asylum claims is a consequence of narrowing paths to permanent residency. Reduced access to post-graduation work permits, tougher spousal employment rules, and tighter immigration quotas have left many international students with few options after graduation. For some, filing for refugee protection has become a desperate last resort.
Colleges across Canada are seeing uneven spikes in asylum claims. In 2024, Conestoga College topped the list with 720 claims, followed by Seneca College (650), Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (500), Niagara College (495), and Collège Ellis in Trois-Rivières (475).
While IRCC insists the number of asylum-seeking students is small compared to the total international student population, the agency acknowledges that the effects of recent policy changes won’t be fully visible for several years due to the multi-year nature of most study programs.
To qualify for asylum, claimants must prove they face persecution in their home country. Outcomes vary dramatically based on origin, and applicants often endure lengthy waits as the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) continues to battle a backlog of more than 281,000 unresolved cases.
As Prime Minister Carney prepares to unveil his new cabinet, including a potential new immigration minister, all eyes are on how his government will balance immigration system integrity with fairness and Canada’s reputation as a global leader in education and humanitarian protection.