Data: By the end of 2023, about 41% of the Students in Canada with Valid Study Permits were Indians

Canada continues to be a premier choice for Indian students, highlighting the strong educational partnership between the two nations. According to data from the Bureau of Immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs, almost one in every four Indians who disclosed their purpose as study/education while going abroad went to Canada.  Indian students represented 41% of the students in Canada with valid study permits by the end of 2023, a significant rise from just 12% in 2014.

By Sai Krishna Muthyanolla 

Tensions between India and Canada have reached unprecedented levels, as both nations engaged in a diplomatic tit-for-tat following allegations surrounding the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, while India responded by expelling an equal number of Canadian diplomats, including the mission head, Stewart Ross Wheeler. Both sides have set an October 19 deadline for the diplomats to leave. Meanwhile, Canada is not the first country to accuse India of such plots abroad. Last year, U.S. prosecutors accused an Indian official of orchestrating a failed assassination plot against another Sikh separatist leader in New York. The latest indictment filed by the U.S. Department of Justice charged Vikash Yadav, a former officer of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), as a key figure in the conspiracy against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an India-designated terrorist and U.S. citizen.

The diplomatic clash has sent ripples through the sizable Indian community in Canada, home to about 1.8 million people of Indian origin and another one million non-resident Indians (NRIs), accounting for over 3% of Canada’s population. India is also the largest source of international students in Canada—around 427,000 currently studying there as of July 2023.

The ongoing diplomatic tensions could greatly impact student and work visas, along with the broader immigration framework. In this light, we examine the state of India-Canada relations in the education sector.

One-third of Indian students pursuing education abroad are in Canada

Canada continues to be a premier choice for Indian students, highlighting the strong educational partnership between the two nations. According to data from the Bureau of Immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs, almost one in every four Indians who disclosed their purpose as study/education while going abroad went to Canada.

The proportion of students selecting Canada for their education has steadily increased, rising from 18% in 2017 to nearly 25% in 2022. The U.S. and Canada account for half of such individuals.

Indians account for almost 40% of the study permits issued in Canada

Canada is viewed as an attractive destination for international students, bolstered by the government’s supportive immigration policies and a welcoming attitude towards newcomers from around the globe.

In the past ten years, Canada has seen significant changes in its immigration landscape. While India, China, and the Philippines have historically been key sources of international students, African nations are gaining recognition as emerging contributors. Recent data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) indicates that India, China, and the Philippines remain the top three countries supplying students to Canadian institutions.

As of August 2024, Indian citizens accounted for 37% of all study permits issued in Canada in 2024, making them the largest group of international students. This was followed by Chinese citizens at 11.2%, Nigerian citizens at 5.1%, students from the Philippines at 4.6%, and French citizens at 2.7%.

In 2023, India’s role as a source of international students strengthened further, with a remarkable 34% increase in those with valid study permits— totalling 4.27 lakhs as of 31 December 2023 compared to 3.18 lakhs as of 31 December 2022. Indian students represented 41% of the students with valid study permits by the end of 2023, a significant rise from just 12% in 2014. China follows as the second-largest contributor, providing 1.02 lakh students with valid student permit by the end of 2023, a slight increase from 99,470 by the end of 2022, but way below the 1.42 lakh by the end of 2018.

The Philippines ranks third, with 48,870 students in Canada with valid study permits by the end of 2023 marking a nearly 51% increase from 32,320 by the end of 2022. Collectively, these three countries accounted for 5.78 lakh students with valid study permits by the end of 2023, making up 55.5% of the total. By August 2024, the share of these five countries grew to 60.4%.

In contrast, the United States contributed only 14,825 international students, while France, a smaller nation, provided 26,980 placing it fifth. The United Kingdom, despite its historical ties to Canada, accounted for just 3,195 international students in 2023. Rounding out the top five is Nigeria, which had 45,965 students in Canada with valid study permits by the end of 2023 a substantial rise from 21,555 by the end of 2022.

Since 2000, the number of students with valid study permits surged by 750%, jumping from 1.23 lakh by the end of the year 2000 to 10.4 lakh by 31 December 2023. With Visa restrictions coming in, the number of study permits issued till August 2024 is around 3.74 lakh.

New visa restrictions could impact immigration to Canada

Earlier this year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced plans to reduce the proportion of temporary residents in the country from 6.5% of the total population to 5% by 2026. To achieve this, the Canadian government has introduced a new set of restrictions for international students while also tightening regulations for foreign workers. This decision aims to decrease the number of temporary residents in response to a housing crisis and rising inflation concerns.

Canada implemented a cap on the number of international students allowed, made attestation letters mandatory for study permit applications, and eliminated the spousal Open Work Permit, preventing students from bringing their spouses along for most undergraduate programs.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in September 2024 that Canada would issue 35% fewer international student permits this year, with a target of 4,85,000 in 2024, with an additional 10% reduction planned for the following year, to 4,37,000 in 2025.

Furthermore, temporary residents holding visitor visas will no longer be able to apply for work permits from within Canada. Initially scheduled to end on 28 February 2025, this policy is now being terminated ahead of time.

All these measures are designed to support genuine students, ensuring they have the necessary resources for a fulfilling educational experience in Canada, while also managing the overall influx of students to ease the strain on housing, healthcare, and other services.

Courtesy : Factly

Note: This news is originally published in factly.in and was used solely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights