Canada’s Declining Popularity Among Indian Students
Canada, once a preferred destination for Indian students, is witnessing a noticeable decline in enrolment from India due to several contributing factors. In 2023, nearly 320,000 Indians arrived in Canada on study visas. However, starting in 2024, Canada has slashed study permits by 35%, compounded by stricter work permit regulations and heightened scrutiny.
Policy Changes and Their Impact
Recent policy adjustments by the Canadian government are significantly impacting Indian student enrolment, altering the previously favorable landscape. Indian students, who represented the largest group with 37% of study visas in 2023, now face numerous challenges. The primary reasons for the decline include financial constraints, diplomatic issues, and more rigorous work permit conditions.
Reduction in Study Permits and Increased Financial Burden
In 2023, nearly 319,000 Indian students moved to Canada. Starting in 2024, the Canadian government has capped approved study permits at about 360,000, a 35% reduction from the previous year, according to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data. This cap, aimed at stabilizing the international student population, is distributed among provinces and territories based on population, making it harder for Indian students to obtain permits.
Financially, students from Punjab alone spend over Rs 68,000 crore annually on education in Canada, highlighting the significant impact of these policy changes.
Dramatic Decrease in Study Permits
From October to December 2023, there was an 86% drop in study permits issued to Indian students, plummeting from 108,940 to 14,910. This decline followed India’s expulsion of Canadian diplomats who processed the permits and a reduced number of applications due to a diplomatic dispute over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Economic Contribution and Housing Challenges
Indian students constitute more than 41% of Canada’s international student population, substantially contributing to the nation’s economic growth. However, international students, including those from India, are often blamed for Canada’s housing and employment challenges.
Prospective Indian students must now demonstrate access to $20,635, a significant increase from the $10,000 requirement of the past twenty years, in addition to covering travel and tuition costs.
Insights from Immigration Experts
Gurtej Sandhu, an immigration advisor based in Chandigarh, noted that besides diplomatic tensions, several other factors contribute to the declining number of international students from India. Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, announced policies including a cap on study permit applications, stricter eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, and limited open work permits for spouses of international students.
New Work Permit Regulations
Starting September 1, 2024, international students, including those from India, will be limited to 24 hours of off-campus work per week. The temporary policy allowing students to work more than 20 hours per week off-campus will end on April 30, 2024. This change removes a key incentive for Indian students, as agreements often involve private colleges delivering public college curricula.
Additionally, new rules limit open work permits for spouses to those of students in master’s and doctoral programs, discouraging Indian students from pursuing undergraduate or college programs in Canada due to the impact on their family’s ability to work and support themselves.
Increased Scrutiny and Application Stress
Since December 1, 2023, designated learning institutions must confirm every letter of acceptance directly with IRCC. While this added scrutiny prevents fraud, it slows the application process and adds stress for Indian students.
Multiple factors are contributing to the decline in Indian student enrolment in Canada, including recent policy changes, financial burdens, diplomatic tensions, stricter work permit criteria, and increased scrutiny. This shift highlights the evolving challenges Indian students face when considering Canada as their educational destination.
