Canada's New Move: Big blow to Indian students

In a significant policy shift, Canada has announced a major reduction in the number of student visas it will grant over the next two years. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed on social media platform X that Canada will issue 35% fewer international student permits this year, with an additional 10% cut planned for 2025.

This decision aims to curb the growing number of temporary residents in the country, as Trudeau emphasized, "Immigration is an advantage for our economy – but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down." This new rule will profoundly impact Indian students, who have traditionally viewed Canada as a top destination for higher education.

Official data shows that Canada approved 509,390 student permits in 2023 and 175,920 in the first seven months of 2024. With these restrictions, the number of student permits is expected to decrease to approximately 437,000 in 2025. According to the Indian government, around 4.27 lakh Indian students are currently studying in Canada out of a total of 13.35 lakh studying abroad.

The reduction in Canadian student visas comes at a time when other countries are also shifting their immigration policies. The United States remains the most popular destination for Indian students, with about 4.5 lakh enrolled in various institutions, followed by Australia and the United Kingdom.