Indian students’ permits fall

Canada is witnessing a steep fall in the number of Indian students arriving for higher studies, even as Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced plans to attract skilled workers priced out of the United States due to the $100,000 H-1B visa fee.

- Simple Vishwakarma

The contrasting developments highlight the challenges Canada faces in its international education sector while simultaneously exploring opportunities to draw global talent. As per statistics quoted by ICEF Monitor, Indian nationals' approvals reduced from 188,255 in 2024 to a mere 52,765 in the initial seven months of 2025.

If the trends continue, the total number of permits for the year is expected to continue at about 90,454, a decrease of 67% from the peak of 2023, when over 278,000 Indian students had permits.

For many applicants, the experience has been frustrating and uncertain.

"I applied for a master's programme in Canada this year, but my study permit got rejected. Many of us invested time and money into applications, and now we're unsure whether to try again or look at other countries," said Arjun Makhija, an aspiring postgraduate student in Toronto.

Wider Impact

The downturn is not limited to Indian students alone. Between January and June 2025, Canada received a cumulative total of 143,485 study permit applications from global nationalities but approved only 31,580. The approval rate has reduced to barely about 30%, a deep decline from the 51% reported within the same period last year.

For families in India, the drop in approvals is creating doubts. "For years, Canada was the first option for Indian students, including me, because of its post-study work opportunities.