India-Canada Relations: Impact on Indian Students

In the most recent updates regarding Canada student visa news, noteworthy developments have unfolded. A significant decline has been reported in the issuance of Canada student visas. This especially warrants close attention, particularly for individuals considering immigration to Canada from India. Amid the rising political tension between the two countries, Indian students are skipping Canada as their international study destination. This has resulted in an 86% drop in the issuance of study permits to Indian students in Canada. 

When compared, the immigration to Canada from India quarter by quarter, in the 3rd quarter of 2023, 108,940 Canada study permits were issued, which dropped to 14,910 in the last quarter of 2023. During an interview, Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that the diplomatic tensions between India and Canada stemmed from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's remarks. In June’23, he linked an Indian agent's involvement in the death of a Canadian citizen, significantly reducing the country's capacity to process student applications.

The decline in the issuance of Canada study permits was accentuated even more after New Delhi asked 41 Canadian diplomats to leave the country on an immediate basis. This rising tension between the two countries has also been one of the biggest demotivators for further applying for Canada student visas, leading to a huge drop. 

This is highly concerning for Canada as international students are the biggest Money-spinners for Canadian universities. In total, they bring about C$22 billion ($16.4 billion) on an annual basis, with Indians being the most prominent contributors among all the other international students. The decision-makers are still unfolding other reasons for this drop, but the primary insight behind the decline in the issuance of Canada study permits is the rising disputes and disagreements between both countries.

C. Gurusubramanian, counsellor for the High Commission of India in Ottawa, has stated that the ongoing friction between the countries is not the only reason for this decline in the issuance of Canada student visas. Students are also exploring other alternatives, and this shift can also be attributed to the recent apprehensions regarding insufficient student housing and inadequate teaching resources in some of the renowned universities in Canada. In recent years, Indians have constituted the largest segment of international students in Canada, receiving over 41% of all Canada study permits in 2022, totalling 225,835.

The evolving landscape of international student dynamics between the two countries, Canada and India, only underscores the utmost need for students to consider their higher education destination carefully. Miller also added,” I can’t tell you about how the diplomatic relationship will evolve, It’s not something that I see any light at the end of the tunnel on.” This prompts consideration of whether future diplomatic relations will ameliorate, alleviating uncertainties faced by students and other stakeholders in this situation. As both countries navigate diplomatic relations and educational ties, the resolution of these concerns will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Indian students' educational pursuits in Canada.