Indian Students in Canada Drops 41% Amid Visa Restrictions

Indian students in Canada faced an unprecedented decline in 2024, with numbers plummeting 41% from 233,532 to 137,608 amid stricter visa regulations. This sharp decrease reflects a broader trend affecting Indian students abroad, as total enrollments dropped by 15% from 892,989 to 759,064 during the same period.

The dramatic shift in Canada’s education landscape stems from tightening student visa policies and escalating diplomatic tensions between both nations. As a result, other major destinations also experienced significant decreases, with the United States recording a 13% decline and the United Kingdom seeing a 28% reduction in Indian student enrollments. These changes have led to a total decrease of 164,370 Indian students across Canada, the UK, and the US within just one year.

Canada Enforces Stricter Visa Rules for Indian Students

Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) implemented sweeping changes to visa policies in 2024-25, creating unprecedented challenges for Indian students seeking education opportunities. These regulatory shifts have reshaped the landscape for international education in Canada.

New IRCC policies increase rejection rates

Study permit rejection rates skyrocketed to 52% in 2024, a significant jump from 38% in 2023. For Indian applicants specifically, the impact has been even more severe, with a dramatic 40% decline in study permits issued since late 2023. The government introduced a cap of 485,000 study permits in 2024, subsequently reducing it further to 437,000 for 2025 – a 10% decrease.

Moreover, the IRCC instituted new Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) and Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) requirements, creating additional hurdles for prospective students. This tightening of regulations has driven Indian applications to Canadian universities down by nearly 50% in 2024 compared to the previous year.

Study permit cancelations rise sharply

Beyond rejecting new applications, Canadian authorities have intensified scrutiny of existing permits. The IRCC projects approximately 7,000 permit revocations in 2025 alone. Since January 31, 2025, new regulations grant border officials expanded authority to cancel temporary resident documents, including study permits.

Consequently, numerous students have reported unexpected permit cancelations despite maintaining perfect academic records. For those facing revocation, the path to appeal is financially prohibitive – legal costs typically start at CINR 126570.68 with no guarantee of success. Additionally, effective November 8, 2024, students cannot change educational institutions using the same study permit.

Visa curbs linked to national security concerns

Canadian authorities have strengthened enforcement measures primarily due to concerns about illegal migration and visa system abuse. The government has implemented mandatory twice-yearly compliance reporting for educational institutions to verify student enrollment status.

Immigration officers now possess broader discretion to cancel visas if they believe a student might overstay their authorized period. Designated Learning Institutions failing to comply with these regulations face severe penalties, including one-year suspensions from admitting international students.

Furthermore, these policy changes reflect growing domestic pressures related to housing costs, healthcare system strain, and increasing anti-immigration sentiment among Canadians. The heightened scrutiny aims to ensure students are enrolled in legitimate institutions rather than using study permits as pathways to unauthorized employment or residency.

India-Canada Diplomatic Rift Escalates Student Crisis

Diplomatic relations between India and Canada reached a breaking point in 2023, creating significant uncertainty for the large population of Indian students in Canada. The fallout continues to reshape educational exchange between the two nations.

Trudeau’s allegations spark diplomatic fallout

The crisis intensified when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement in the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader associated with the Khalistan movement. India promptly rejected these allegations as “absurd and baseless,” with officials describing Trudeau’s accusations as politically motivated “votebank politics”. This fundamental disagreement created immediate ripple effects throughout diplomatic channels.

Mutual expulsion of diplomats worsens ties

The situation escalated dramatically in October 2024 when Canada expelled six Indian diplomats after identifying them as “persons of interest” in the Nijjar investigation. India swiftly retaliated by expelling Canadian diplomats and withdrawing its High Commissioner. This mutual diplomatic downsizing severely reduced consular operations in both countries. Currently, more than two-thirds of Canadian diplomats have been withdrawn from India.

Impact of political tensions on student mobility

While approximately 600,000 Indian students remain in Canada, their educational journeys face mounting obstacles. The reduction in diplomatic staff has directly resulted in longer visa processing times. This primarily affects new applicants and family members hoping to visit students already in Canada.

Student sentiment reflects growing concern. Although many current students remain focused on their education rather than political developments, parents in India are increasingly anxious. “They sometimes ask us to look into shifting to some other country,” noted Harmanpreet Kaur, a Business Administration student in Nova Scotia.

Education consultants report a significant decrease in interest for Canadian education. Pratibha Jain, founder of Eduabroad, indicates approximately 10% decline in queries for Canada, with students pivoting toward the UK, Australia, and European destinations. Nevertheless, experts believe direct discrimination against Indian students remains unlikely despite the diplomatic tensions.

Canadian Universities Struggle to Offset Indian Student Decline

Canadian educational institutions face significant financial challenges as Indian student enrollments plummet by 41% in 2024, forcing colleges to cut programs and seek alternative markets to maintain operations.

How many Indian students in Canada dropped in 2024?

The enrollment decline has been severe, with Indian student numbers falling from 233,500 in 2023 to just 137,600 in 2024. This represents the largest drop among major source countries, particularly when compared to Chinese students, whose numbers declined by only 3% during the same period (from 58,080 to 56,465). Historically, Indian students had driven unprecedented growth in Canada’s international education sector, increasing nearly eightfold from 31,920 in 2015 to 278,000 in 2023. Currently, though still constituting 49% of all international students in Canada during the first half of 2024, this figure has dropped by half compared to 2023.

Revenue loss and seat vacancies in top institutions

The financial impact has been devastating. Ontario universities alone anticipate losses of INR 84.38 billion over the next two years. Several institutions have taken drastic measures to address budget shortfalls. Mohawk College announced a 20% reduction in administrative staff and suspended 16 programs in December 2024, while Northern College expects deficits of INR 506.28 million for 2025-2026, potentially rising to INR 1012.57 million in 2026-2027.

Essentially, the crisis has forced widespread program suspensions across the country. Centennial College has suspended 49 programs—nearly 28% of its total offerings—for the 2025-26 academic year. Likewise, Sheridan College suspended 40 programs in November 2024, while Seneca College temporarily closed its Markham campus due to declining enrollment.

Colleges ramp up outreach to other international markets

Institutions are actively diversifying their recruitment strategies to offset the Indian student decline. York University has hired in-country representatives and implemented targeted branding initiatives. Similarly, Kwantlen Polytechnic University has initiated recruitment efforts in Southeast Asia and Africa, offering scholarships tailored to students from these regions.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller maintains that the government is not responsible for institutions’ financial difficulties, stating: “I didn’t tell any university or college to charge international students four or five times what we charge domestic students. That isn’t my role”. He further emphasized that Ontario’s reliance on international tuition fees represents an unsustainable business model that requires urgent attention.

Global Education Landscape Shifts as Students Look Elsewhere

As Canada’s restrictions mount, Indian students have begun redirecting their educational aspirations toward European nations and emerging study destinations. This shift represents a significant realignment in global student mobility patterns, with several countries experiencing substantial growth in Indian enrollments.

Germany, Russia, and France gain Indian enrolments

The redirection of Indian students has created remarkable growth in several alternative destinations. Germany has emerged as a frontrunner, with Indian student numbers increasing by 68% from 2022 to 2024 (from 20,700 to 34,700). Currently, Indians constitute the largest international student cohort in Germany, with nearly 50,000 students.

Russia has recorded an equally impressive 59% growth from 2022 to 2024 (from 19,800 to 31,400). The country’s appeal stems primarily from its affordable medical, engineering, and aviation programs. Russian universities have simplified application processes—requiring no entrance exams, TOEFL, IELTS, or bank guarantees—with invitation letters processed in just three days.

France has witnessed a 33% increase in Indian enrollments from 2022 to 2024 (from 6,400 to 8,500). The country has set an ambitious target of hosting 30,000 Indian students by 2030. Notably, Indian students are among only five nationalities eligible for a two-year post-study stay visa after completing master’s degrees.

Students prioritize visa stability and ROI over rankings

The shifting preferences reflect major changes in student decision-making criteria. According to education experts, students who once prioritized university rankings now focus on:

• Visa stability and policy certainty
• Return on investment and expected salary
• Post-graduation work rights
• Affordability and cost-efficiency

Indeed, 90% of education agents in India report that cost has become the primary factor in destination selection over the past year. This explains why countries like Germany—offering tuition-free public universities—have become increasingly attractive.

Meanwhile, Ireland, Singapore, and Malaysia are heavily investing in their education sectors, offering English-taught programs and partnering with globally renowned universities. New Zealand has also emerged as an appealing alternative, considered the most welcoming Anglophone destination for Indian students in terms of study and work visa opportunities.

This global shift demonstrates how Indian students are adapting to changing visa regulations by seeking destinations that align with their long-term career prospects and financial considerations.

Conclusion

Canadian educational institutions face unprecedented challenges as Indian student numbers continue their downward trend. Stricter visa policies, coupled with diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, have reshaped international education patterns. Consequently, Canadian universities struggle with significant revenue losses, leading to program suspensions and staff reductions.

Meanwhile, countries like Germany, Russia, and France have emerged as preferred alternatives for Indian students. These nations offer compelling advantages through stable visa policies, affordable education, and clear post-graduation pathways. Above all, student priorities have shifted from university rankings toward practical considerations such as visa stability, return on investment, and overall affordability.

This transformation signals a broader change in global education dynamics. Therefore, Canadian institutions must adapt their strategies as Indian students demonstrate remarkable resilience by finding alternative pathways for their educational aspirations. The current situation serves as a reminder that international education success depends on balanced policies, stable diplomatic relations, and adaptable institutional approaches.