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Languages Canada has released its annual report, which paints a troubling picture. The study involved 160 educational programs.
In 2025, the Canadian education sector responsible for language courses lost 13% of its students (fewer than 82 000 people arrived), and the average course duration decreased by 19% (totaling approximately 799 000 studying weeks). The trend has already been evident: in 2024, compared to 2023, the decline was already noticeable and stood at 15%.
What is the cause?
Experts see the cause of the industry crisis in the tightening of visa and immigration rules; international competition also plays a role (particularly the shift of many prospective students toward the East, to Asia), as do economic difficulties (rising prices for virtually everything). In 2024, the government introduced a cap on the number of study permits for foreign nationals — and the overseas «student market» responded immediately. On top of that, the approval rate for applications submitted by those still wishing to study in Canada fell by 36% in 2025.
In 2025, nearly 40% of language course students entered Canada on the electronic «visa» eTA, 21% — on a temporary resident visa, 13% — on a «classic» student study permit (the remaining 26% already held Canadian citizenship or permanent residency).
A further blow came from the authorities' 2025 decision to effectively dismantle traditional pathway programs. Previously, a foreign student would obtain a study permit for Canada, arrive for preparatory courses (the same pathway programs: language plus academic subjects), and then, upon successful completion, transition to a Canadian university or college. Now they must obtain two separate study permits, which is of course far less convenient (and more costly). Authorities are trying to soften the blow with the Joint Pathway Program (JPP) option, but it is still too new for reliable results and statistics to be gathered.
What languages are studied in Canada
According to collected statistics, the language services market in Canada is distributed as follows:
- 92% study English,
- 8% — French.
Nearly ¾ of programs are provided by private schools and centers. 93% of language course students in Canada are foreign nationals, and the largest group among them is Japanese (nearly 12,000 people), followed by Brazil, South Korea, and Mexico.
What should language schools in Canada do
Educational institutions are struggling to cope: some are scaling back their presence (closing branches, reducing the range of programs), some are merging with yesterday's competitors, and some are closing altogether. Online courses and hybrid learning formats are becoming increasingly prevalent, attracting students even without an actual (physical) presence in Canada. However, education experts acknowledge that without government support — investment in the sector, diversification of source countries, easing of immigration policy, clearer entry rules — regaining the trust of foreign students will be very difficult.
