Student Visa Approval Trends in Canada – Philippines

The Philippines has transitioned from being an emerging market for international students in Canada to becoming the largest source market outside of India in the first quarter of 2022. Representing the largest leap in study permit approval rankings over a five year span by any source market in the past 22 years, the Philippines held the fourth spot for the most approvals in 2021, up from number 10 in 2019.¹

How have student visa² trends for the Filipino market shifted in Canada? Where are Filipino students studying, and what are they studying when they get there? Let’s unpack the strong impact we are seeing from Filipino students studying in Canada.

Canadian Study Permit Applications and Approval Rate – Philippines

Last year, we predicted that Canada’s international ed sector was on pace for a strong rebound in 2021. The Philippines has played a key role in that recovery. More than 3,000 Filipinos were approved to study in Canada between January and March of 2022. This was an increase of 24% from 2021.

The chart below shows study permit approvals over the previous five years:

Canada received just over 20,500 study permit applications from Filipino citizens in 2021. This was an all-time high, representing a 144% increase in applications in just three years. In fact, more than two and a half times the number of Filipino students who were approved to study in 2019 came to Canada in 2021. This made the Philippines the number four source country for international students in Canada in 2021, up from number 19 in 2016.

The Philippines has been steadily outperforming the majority of Canada’s other source markets. The following table summarizes the relevant study permit trends:

Overall, we are seeing stronger numbers out of the Philippines than many other countries in 2021. Despite the Philippines’ struggle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the market is on track for a strong recovery. The growth that we’re seeing in the Philippines is partly due to closures in Australia, causing students to shift their study abroad plans to Canada.

From speaking with our recruitment partners in-market, we know that the majority of Filipino students see studying abroad as the first step in their immigration journey. Many students are looking for a pathway to permanent residency (PR) in their destination country, and Canada’s generous Post-Graduate Work Permit Program (PGWPP) sets it apart from other English-speaking study abroad destinations. The PGWPP has been a driving factor for the growth in applications from the Philippines.

Canadian Study Permits Issued by Province – Philippines

The map below shows the number of study permits issued to Filipino students in 2021 by province of study, including the change in study permits issued between 2020 and 2021:

Ontario remains the number one destination for Filipino students in Canada by a wide margin. Overall, Ontario had just under 6,400 issued study permits in 2021, which was an increase of just over 5,300 study permits from 2020.

53% of new study permits issued to Filipino students in 2021 were for Ontario institutions, with Toronto attracting the most Filipino students of any Canadian metro area in 2021. However, 2021 was the fifth straight year in which Ontario lost market share, dropping by six percentage points compared to 2020.

Of all the Canadian provinces that attracted Filipino students in 2021, New Brunswick had the largest increase in study permits approved. The growing province had an increase of over 12 times the number in study permit approvals in 2021 compared to last year.

Communities in Western Canada are growing in popularity at a faster rate. Six of the top 10 most popular metro areas among Filipino students last year were in British Columbia or Alberta, with 14% of study permits issued to Calgary-based students in 2021 issued to Filipino students, compared to a national average of 4%.

Overall, we’re seeing a big push towards smaller metro areas with regional immigration pathways³ that are driving Filipino students to Canada. Communities in cities like Calgary are being sought after by Filipino students who are looking for work opportunities and easier immigration pathways after graduation.

Canadian Study Permits Issued by Study Level – Philippines

The charts below show the change in the distribution of study permits issued to Filipino students by study level in 2020 and 2021:

The Philippines has always been a college-focused market, and that trend continued into 2021. The quality, accessibility, and affordability of Canada’s college offerings make Canadian colleges a top target among students looking to obtain PR. In 2021, two in three study permits issued from the Philippines were issued to college students, with an overall increase of just over 6,800 study permits issued in 2021 from 2020.

Early indicators show a slight drop in college students in 2022, with just under 53% of study permits issued at the college level. This is a drop of just over 12 percentage points from 2021 levels. In comparison, Canadian universities saw an increase in study permits issued this year, with a growth of just over three percentage points from 2020.

Making up a large portion of the Filipino market, primary and secondary students accounted for almost 22% of study permits issued in 2021. According to ApplyBoard internal data, the majority of Filipino students coming to Canada to study are working-age adults, with many hoping to also relocate their families. The average age of Filipino applicants who applied to Canadian schools in 2021 was 33. As a result, we saw an increase in Filipino students bringing their children to Canada, which caused an increase in primary and secondary numbers. In 2021, one in five issued study permits were issued for primary and secondary students.

Key Takeaways

The Philippines has been a dominant player in the Southeast Asian (SEA) market for several years now, outperforming most other SEA markets and growing steadily in rankings every year since 2015. When we look at how the Philippines stacks up against other top source markets globally, we continue to be impressed with the growth of the market.

One thing remains clear: Filipino students are displaying a fierce interest in pursuing educational opportunities in Canada, with this interest growing each year. As Canada’s student market shifts, Canadian institutions will be competing to attract students from across the globe.

Schools looking to take advantage of this growth and attract more Filipino students should try the following:

• Solidify industry networks to provide stronger career placements for international students.
• Familiarize themselves with the rural immigration pathways pilot programs that are attracting Filipino applicants to Western Canada.
• Highlight popular work opportunities and pathways to PR being offered to Filipino students.
• Leverage the already existing communities and familial ties that exist in smaller metro areas like Calgary that are attracting Filipino students.

About the ApplyInsights Team

FOOTNOTES:

1. All data courtesy of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), except where noted. Statistics used in this article are for new study permits only.

2. The terms student visa and study permit are generally used interchangeably for Canadian international students. Rather than a student visa, Canada provides an approved international student with a study permit, which allows that student to enroll in classes at Canadian institutions. When a student is accepted for a study permit, they are usually also provided with a visitor visa, which allows that student to enter Canada for their studies.

3. Popular regional immigration pathways across Canada include the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) and the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP).