Canada has witnessed a drastic decline in study permits granted to Indian students, marking an 86 percent decrease in the last quarter of the previous year. Only 14,910 permits were issued, compared to 1,08,940 in the preceding three months. The strained relations between Canada and India have been exacerbated by baseless allegations from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, implicating Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
This diplomatic tension has led to the withdrawal of 41 Indian diplomats, impacting various aspects of bilateral cooperation. The decline in study permits is particularly significant as Indian students constitute a substantial portion of foreign students in Canada, representing 41 percent of the 2,25,835 study permits issued in 2022.
Canada’s Immigration Minister, Mark Miller, cites challenges in processing a large number of permits amid the strained relations, and there are no indications of a notable increase in the near future. As Canada faces issues related to unemployment and housing shortages due to increased immigration, the country is contemplating restrictions on foreign students.
