New changes backfire: Indian students lose interest in Canada

 

The new changes announced by the Canadian government have come as a blow to those who dream of studying and working in Canada. With this, Punjab-based study abroad consultancies say that Indian students are losing interest in Canada as a study destination. The federal government has announced that it will once again reduce the number of study permits issued to international students from next year. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made it clear that the number of permits, which has been reduced by 35 percent this year, will be reduced by another 10 percent next year. This announcement is going to affect mainly Indian students.

IRCC processed 15 percent fewer study permit applications from India in 2023 than the previous year as part of a reduction in the number of international students. According to new data from IRCC, there were a total of 107,385 Indian study permit holders in Canada from January to July 2024. Meanwhile, a 20 percent decline was recorded in June this year compared to June 2023.

Students studying in Canada say that because of the changes in Canada, students are increasingly going to places like Germany and the UK for higher studies.

The coming into effect of Canada's new Labor Market Impact Assessment, which controls the arrival of workers from abroad, is also a setback for Indians. Also changes have been made in eligibility criteria for open work permits. IRCC will further restrict eligibility for spousal open work permits for spouses of students in doctoral, certain master's programs, selected professional programs, and certain pilot programs.