Page 49 - StudyTravel Magazine October 2025 Issue

MARKET ANALYSIS

Gonzalo Peralta, and communities. We are making the
Executive case that Official Languages educa-

Director at tion is essential infrastructure for
Languages Canada, talks to Canada’s future, and that private and
us... public providers alike must have fair
and reasonable access to study permit
“2024 was a year of both resilience allocations. Looking ahead, early
and strain for Canada’s ELT sector. Our signs from 2025 are mixed. Demand
annual survey showed strong demand remains solid in many markets, but
from students worldwide, yet institu- visa refusals and processing backlogs
tions faced unprecedented challenges in key source countries are cause
caused by immigration policy changes, for concern. We continue to press
study permit caps, and unpredictable government to ensure that the 2025
processing delays. These factors have permit and PAL allocation system is
created barriers not only for our mem- implemented fairly and that language
bers but also for Canada’s internation- programs are not collateral damage in
al education reputation. At Languages broader immigration policy shifts. Our
Canada, we are using the survey priority remains to alleviate the nega-

findings to demonstrate to policymak- tive impact of regulatory changes and
ers the real impact of immigration to defend Canada’s position as a lead-
decisions on students, institutions, ing destination for language learning.”

Mexican nationals in February place with 5,033 students, down from
last year led to a slowdown in 7,715 in 2023.
Top 10 source markets enrolments from this source Perla Payan, President of Mexican
(2024) market in 2024. Previously, Mexicans agency association AMTE, told
Japan were allowed to travel to Canada for StudyTravel Magazine that while
Canada remained the most popular
programmes of up to six months
1. with an eTA. That then changed, and destination for Mexican students
Mexican nationals are now only eligible in 2024, it faced slower growth and
Brazil for an eTA if they have a valid US visa increased competition as a result of
2. or if they’ve had a Canadian visa in immigration policies. “Consequently,
the past 10 years. “The tourist visa countries such as the UK, Ireland,

ground, and have established
and Colombian youth has had a nega-
3. Mexico requirement (TRV) for both Mexican and Australia have gained significant
tive impact [on enrolments], not only themselves as attractive alternatives.”
4. South Korea on the numbers from both countries, LC’s annual report highlighted a
but also the general feeling of agents shift in market dominance toward Asia
5. China in these markets towards Canada,” in 2024 for member schools. “South
says Robin. America was overtaken by Asia in 2024.
6. Canada Mexico was the second largest Asia accounted for 48 per cent of all
source market for LC members in 2023 student weeks and 42 per cent of all
7. Colombia (13,572) but dropped to third position students studying with participating
in 2024 (9,026). Japan retained its members,” it said. However, this was
8. Taiwan position as the largest source coun- likely stimulated by a larger decrease
try, with 13,783 students - a two per from South America (-28 per cent),
9. France cent decline from the previous year although South Korea and Taiwan did
- followed by Brazil, which recorded a maintain their recovery with year-on-
10. Türkiye 13 per cent drop to 10,685 students. year increases of eight and nine per
Colombia, meanwhile, fell to seventh cent, respectively.

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