More and more international students in Canada are now applying for asylum.
Canada is seeing a huge rise in asylum claims by international students. The numbers for 2025 are expected to beat last year’s record of 20,245 claims. New government data confirms that thousands of students are now turning to asylum after facing fewer options to stay in the country legally.
In the first three months of 2025 alone, over 5,500 international students applied for asylum. This is a 22% increase from the same time in 2024. The number is nearly six times higher than what Canada saw in 2019.
Immigration experts and lawyers say Canada’s recent policy changes are making it harder for students to settle here. Many students once hoped to stay by applying for permanent residency. But stricter rules are closing that path.
A Toronto-based immigration lawyer explained, “The government has shut down many regular pathways to permanent residence. This is pushing students toward claiming asylum as a last resort.”
Students now face more limits. The number of new study permits dropped by 40% in 2024. Foreign students also have fewer work hours, and new rules make it harder for their spouses to get work permits.
The Prime Minister said immigration levels need to come down. He wants temporary residents, including foreign students, to make up less than 5% of the total population by 2027. They currently make up 7%.
Many students who studied in lesser-known colleges are now stuck. Their diplomas don’t help them find jobs. And without jobs, they can’t apply for residency. That leaves them few choices, and many are now turning to asylum as their only option.
An immigration expert explained that some students completed programs that aren’t recognized by employers. "They’re stuck with no clear path forward,” the expert said.
The government has said that most permit holders still do not claim asylum. But since permits last for several years, the real impact of permit cuts might take time to show.
In 2024, these five schools saw the highest number of student asylum claims:
These schools say they can’t control what happens after students arrive. One school said it chooses students based on academics and doesn't know if they plan to seek asylum. Another said there’s a big gap in communication with immigration officials. One college may even stop accepting students from certain countries.
Canada’s refugee system is under strain. There’s a huge backlog, with over 281,000 cases still waiting for a decision. This causes long delays for people who truly need protection.
Some worry that students might be abusing the system. But experts say many claims are real. One example: a student from Ukraine who arrived years ago. The war changed everything back home, and now their claim is genuine.
Experts say Canada faces hard choices. The country wants to protect people fleeing danger, but also needs to deal with rising housing and healthcare problems.
As asylum claims by students keep rising, the debate grows. Can Canada stay true to its values while handling local issues?
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