Ottawa witnessed a significant decline in the issuance of study permits to Indian students late last year, primarily due to diplomatic strains between India and Canada. The expulsion of Canadian diplomats involved in processing permits, combined with a decrease in applications from Indian students amid the diplomatic dispute, resulted in a noteworthy drop, according to Immigration Minister Marc Miller in an interview with Reuters. (Indian Student Permits Canada)
Miller expressed skepticism about the swift rebound of study permits for Indian students, emphasizing the continued impact of strained relations on processing applications. The removal of 41 diplomats from India, representing two-thirds of the Canadian staff, and subsequent tensions prompted Indian students to explore alternative study destinations.
Indian Student Permits Canada
Official data, not previously reported, revealed an 86% decline in study permits issued to Indians in the fourth quarter of the previous year compared to the previous quarter, dropping from 108,940 to 14,910.
C. Gurusubramanian, counselor for the High Commission of India in Ottawa, mentioned concerns about the lack of residential and adequate teaching facilities at some Canadian institutions, contributing to Indian students considering alternatives.
India has been a major source of international students for Canada, with over 41% of all permits, totaling 225,835, granted to Indian students in 2022.
Miller acknowledged the financial significance of international students, contributing approximately C$22 billion ($16.4 billion) annually to Canadian universities. However, he emphasized the need to manage the overwhelming volume of incoming students, citing concerns over an ongoing housing shortage.
To address this, Miller announced that the government would introduce measures, potentially including a cap, in the first half of the year to reduce the influx of international students. He also expressed intentions to modify the postgraduate work permit program and crack down on substandard universities.
In 2023, the Canadian government projected a significant increase in international students, targeting approximately 900,000 students, three times the number from a decade ago. Despite a 4% decline in permits for Indian students in the previous year, they remained the largest group, comprising 40% of the projected international student population.
The diplomatic tensions between India and Canada not only impact the educational landscape but also pose challenges for Canadian universities, as they face potential economic setbacks and the need to adapt to changing international student dynamics.
