In 2023, Canada observed a significant drop in the issuance of study permits to Indian students, primarily due to diplomatic tensions between the two countries, as revealed by a senior Canadian official speaking to Reuters. The official expressed doubt about a swift recovery in the number of study permits for Indians, foreseeing a prolonged impact on this trend.
According to data released by the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE), by the end of 2022, over 800,000 international students were enrolled in various educational levels across Canada. Among them, Indian students constituted the most extensive international student demographic, making up approximately 40% of the global student population. Over the past five years, the number of Indian students studying in Canada has surged by 47%, marking them as one of the fastest-growing international student groups.
The decline in study permits for Indian students was influenced by India’s expulsion of Canadian diplomats responsible for processing the permits. Additionally, fewer Indian students applied for permits due to a diplomatic dispute stemming from the controversy surrounding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Tensions escalated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau implicated Indian government agents in Nijjar’s murder in British Columbia.
Due to India’s decision to recall two-thirds of Canadian diplomatic staff in October, there was an 86% reduction in study permits issued to Indians in the last quarter of the preceding year, dropping from 108,940 to 14,910, according to official data.
In 2023, the Canadian government anticipated hosting around 900,000 international students, a threefold increase from a decade ago. Of these, 40% (approximately 360,000 students) were expected to be Indian. Although the number of permits for Indian students experienced a 4% decline the previous year, they retained their status as the most significant international student group.
Indians continued to dominate Canada’s largest cohort of international students, holding over 41% of all permits issued in 2022. The presence of international students is crucial for sustaining Canadian universities, contributing an estimated $16.4 billion annually to the nation’s economy.
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