Canada cuts down on study permits by 35%; Indians to feel the pinch

Canada on Wednesday (September 18) announced that it will reduce the number of international student permits by 35 per cent this year, and by another 10 per cent next year, in an effort to bring down the number of temporary residents in the country.

In addition, the government has also tightened its foreign worker rules. It will limit work permit eligibility for spouses of some students and temporary foreign workers.

The new rules are bound to impact Indians for whom Canada has been a favoured destination for higher studies.

When bad actors abuse system, we crack down: Trudeau

“We’re granting 35 per cent fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number’s going down by another 10 per cent,” Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X.

“Immigration is an advantage for our economy – but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down,” added Trudeau.

The numbers

The immigration department data show that Canada approved 5,09,390 international study permits in 2023.

This number will come down to 4,85,000 in 2024, and further down to 4,37,000 permits in 2025 after another 10 per cent cut.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller said on Wednesday the government expects the changes to “yield approximately 3,00,000 fewer study permits” over the next three years.

Reason behind cuts

The announcement comes after a recent by-election setback for Trudeau’s Liberal Party, which lost an important seat in Quebec. The government has to face a no-confidence motion next week, and it is under increased scrutiny.

The public seems to feel that immigration policies are straining housing and social services. Migrants, including foreign students, have been blamed for the lack of affordable housing and an increased cost of living in Canada.

Miller said the measures the government has taken until now are working, and he quoted “more than anecdotal evidence that there has been an impact on certain rental markets where students are more prevalent”.

The reduction of temporary residents, including foreign students and workers, has emerged as a key point leading into the general elections next year as Canada’s population crosses 41 million.

How Indians will be affected

Indian government data shows that there are about 13.35 lakh Indian students studying abroad, with about 4.27 lakh in Canada, making it one of the favourite destinations for Indian students.

A Reuters report shows that Indians comprise about 40 per cent of foreign students in Canada. The number of Indian students going to Canada for studies increased by 260 per cent in about 9 years from 2013 to 2022.

With the Canadian government reducing the permits for international students, Indians will have to look at other destinations like the US, Australia, UK, and other countries in Europe.