Canada cuts Indian student visas by 31%: Reports

A noticeable decline has been observed in the number of Indian students heading to Canada, as new immigration rules have led to a 31% drop in student visa approvals, according to Business Standard.

As per the latest figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), only 30,640 Indian students were granted visas from January to March (the first quarter) of 2024, compared to 44,295 during the same period in 2023, as per reports.

This steep 31% decline in visa approvals coincides with the implementation of stricter immigration rules.

Indian students have historically made up the largest share of international students in Canada.

The decline also follows the appointment of new Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has been working to curb temporary migration.

Earlier this year, Canada announced a 10% reduction in student permit approvals, with plans to issue 4,37,000 study permits in 2025 – a 10% decrease from the previous year, according to a statement from the immigration ministry.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation in March, had also previously committed to reducing immigration levels, especially after public opinion turned against increasing immigration.

In 2023, Canada issued over 6,50,000 study permits, pushing the number of international students in the country to over one million – nearly three times the figure from a decade ago.