Policy Changes Lead to 33% Decline in Indian Student Visas for Canada

The number of study permits issued to Indian students in Canada declined sharply in 2024. According to IRCC data, the total fell by nearly 33% compared to 2023.

In 2024, Canada granted 189,070 study permits to Indian students. In contrast, the number stood at 278,110 in the previous year. As a result, their share of total study permits dropped from nearly 41% in 2023 to 36% in 2024. Overall, Canada issued 518,125 permits in 2024, down from 681,390 the year before.

Long-Term Trends in Indian Student Enrolment

Despite this recent drop, the numbers remain much higher than in 2015. When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government took office, Canada issued 219,030 study permits. At that time, Indian students received only 31,920, or 14.5% of the total. Over the years, their numbers grew steadily, but now they are decreasing.

Government Policies Reduce Immigration

The Canadian government introduced new policies to control immigration. Consequently, the influx of international students slowed. Officials linked the rising number of newcomers to Canada’s housing crisis and increasing pressure on healthcare and transportation. Therefore, they decided to reduce the intake of foreign students.

Criticism from Education Experts

Education experts have strongly criticized these changes. Pari Johnston, CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada, highlighted the negative impact on public postsecondary institutions. She explained, “Just over a year ago, Ottawa launched a series of overlapping, hasty reforms which have harmed Canada’s public postsecondary training capacity and the communities that colleges and institutes serve.”

Furthermore, IRCC made 13 major policy changes within just ten months in 2024. As a result, international student applications to colleges dropped by 54% in the fall, far below the government’s 35% target. Johnston warned that if this trend continues, the situation will likely worsen in the coming years.

Colleges Cut Programmes and Staff

Due to lower student enrolment, several colleges have already cut programmes and staff. For instance, in January, St. Lawrence College announced the closure of 55 programmes. Similarly, Centennial College suspended enrolment for 49 courses. By the end of 2024, Sheridan College shut down 40 programmes, and Seneca Polytechnic considered temporarily closing its Markham campus.

New Cap on Study Permits for 2025

Meanwhile, IRCC set a new cap on study permits for 2025. The government plans to issue only 437,000 permits, down from the 2024 target of 485,000. Moreover, this limit will remain in place for the 2026 intake as well.