Canadian Study Permits to Indian Students
Canada has always been a popular country for international students from India however in a surprising turn of events there has been a startling 86% drop in the number of Canadian study permits granted to Indian students during the past quarter (October – December 2023).
With over 41%, or 225,835, of all permits given to Indians in 2022, Indians become the largest group of international students in Canada in recent years. On the contrary the results were not as promising in the last quarter of 2023 with a dip from 108,940 to 14,910.
Reasons
The main reason for the decline in the statistics is the tension between India and Canada. The tensions are likely to weigh on the numbers going forward, Miller stated.
Economic and Policy Factors Contributing to Decline
Marc Miller said, “Our ability to process a lot of applications from India has really been halved by our relationship with India.” In June, Canada said that “credible” charges had been made linking Indian operatives to the murder of Nijjar in a Vancouver neighborhood. That accusation has been denied by India. No one has been charged with the death by Canadian authorities yet. Another reason is that, On orders from New Delhi, Canada was compelled to remove 41 diplomats, or two-thirds of its workforce, from India in October. Furthermore, an official representing the government stated that the disagreement has led Indian students to look at studying abroad. India, on the other hand, said that the move was made in accordance with the Vienna Convention to guarantee Canada’s diplomatic presence was balanced.
Housing Crisis
Other than the economic disputes between the countries, another reason that contributes to the decline of Indian students applying for Canadian higher education is that due to the nation’s persistent housing scarcity, the Canadian government has been working to lower the overall enrollment of foreign students. Miller stated that additional steps, maybe including a cap, would be implemented by the government to reduce the number of foreign students during the first half of this year. IRCC also announced the cost-of-living cap for international students in Canada was increased by the government from $10,000 to $20,635. Applicants for new Canadian study permits in Canada must show proof of income of CA$20,635 that covers their first year’s tuition and travel expenses. This is another factor that is demotivating the students to proceed with their plans to study in Canada. Canadian Study permits granted fell by 86% as a result of these causes.
Effect
Impact on Canadian Universities and Government Concerns
For Canadian universities, international students are a cash cow, bringing in roughly C$22 billion ($16.4 billion) a year. A slowdown would be devastating to these establishments. Furthermore, Immigration Minister Marc Miller voiced worries in an interview regarding the rapid rise in the number of study visas awarded to Indian students. C Guru Subramanian, counselor at the Indian high commission of India in Ottawa, said some Indian international students were looking at other options besides Canada.
In an interview Immigration Minister Marc Miller added that he believes the number of Canadian study permits to Indians is unlikely to rebound soon.
Policymakers, academic institutions, and students should all pay attention to the alarming trend of the 86% decline in Canadian study permits for Indian students. To maintain its position as the top option for international students, particularly those from India, Canada must identify the reasons behind this decline and collaborate to discover remedies.
