Canada has significantly reduced the number of study permits issued to Indian students in 2025, marking a sharp shift in immigration policy. According to the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), there was a 31 per cent drop in the number of permits granted to Indian nationals in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

In the first three months of 2025, only 30,640 study permits were issued to Indian students, down from 44,295 during the same period in 2024. This represents a 30.8 per cent decrease. Despite this decline, India remains Canada’s largest source of international students, with 188,630 permits issued overall, still a 32.2 per cent drop year-over-year.

Canada issued 96,015 study permits in Q1 2025, compared to 121,070 during the same period last year. Experts warn that the reduction

may have long-term consequences for international education, particularly for Indian students who are a major demographic in Canadian institutions.

Visa Revocations And Financial Risks

In addition to fewer permits being issued, there has been an uptick in revoked permits. "We've had multiple clients lose their permits despite perfect academic records," said Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits, in a report published by The Economic Times. Students whose permits are revoked face the threat of deportation unless they successfully appeal, a costly and uncertain process that can exceed C$1,500.

ALSO READ: Who Is Amir Hamza? Lashkar-e-Taiba Co-Founder And Hafiz Saeed's 'Right-Hand' Hospitalised In Lahore After Serious Injury

Stricter Immigration Measures

The Canadian government has introduced new regulations that allow immigration and border officers to cancel temporary resident documents, including study permits, work permits, and electronic travel authorisations (eTAs). These cancellations can occur if a person is deemed inadmissible or fails to convince authorities of their intent to leave Canada after their permit expires.

Even lost, stolen, or erroneously issued documents can now be revoked under the tightened policies. The government’s crackdown is aimed at combating illegal immigration and misuse of Canada’s visa system.

For Indian students, this shift means tougher scrutiny, higher risks of permit cancellations, and potentially costly legal appeals. It also raises concerns for families investing heavily in international education and for educational consultants who now face added uncertainty.

Non-Compliance And Cross-Border Investigations

Recent government data revealed that nearly 50,000 international students who received study permits in 2024 never showed up at their designated Canadian institutions. Among them, 19,582 were Indian nationals, amounting to 5.4 per cent of the 327,646 Indian students with valid study permits. An additional 12,553 Indian students were unaccounted for in institutional records.

Authorities believe that some of these students may have used Canada as a gateway to unlawfully enter the United States. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) also launched an investigation and is working with Indian law enforcement agencies to uncover potential links between Canadian colleges and Indian-based organisations allegedly involved in human trafficking networks.


ALSO READ: Pakistan: Suicide Attack On School Bus In Balochistan Leaves Five Dead, Including Three Children