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Relations between India and Canada are at a nadir, amidst the row regarding India’s alleged involvement in the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has “strongly” rejected Canada’s allegations, accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of engaging in “votebank” politics. Both countries have expelled six diplomats each.
The ripple effects of this diplomatic flare up can be felt by Indian students who are currently studying in Canada, or aspire to do so in the future. Over a million Indian students have received study permits for Canada since 2015, including more than 100,000 having done so in 2024 alone. Here is all you need to know.
How many Indian students are currently studying in Canada?
According to data from the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a total of approximately 1.3 million Indian students received study permits from 2015 to 2024.
In 2015, there were some 31,920 Indian students holding study permits in Canada, out of a total of 219,035 international students, accounting for just 14.5% of the total international student population in the country. However, by 2023, the number of Indian students receiving study permits surged to 278,250, out of 682,060 international students, representing 40.7% of the total international student population.
For 2024, up until August, 137,445 Indian students have received study permits, out of 374,060 international students, accounting for 36.7%. While this marks a roughly 4% drop compared to 2023. This is likely because this year, the Canadian government introduced a cap on the number of international students, and implemented new changes to study permit processes. This has slowed down visa processing times and dampened the enthusiasm of some aspirants, experts say.
Despite these changes, there are currently around 600,000 Indian students in Canada, including both new admissions, and those further on in their studies.
How is the Indo-Canadian tiff impacting Indian students in Canada?
Tanvi Sharma, an MBA student from Jalandhar studying in Toronto, remains unfazed, saying that the political tensions haven’t impacted day-to-day life for international students. That said, there is still some concern.
Harmanpreet Kaur from Kapurthala, studying Business Administration in Nova Scotia, stated that although the students themselves are focused on their education and employment, rather than on political developments, the political tension is seemingly fazing parents. “They sometimes ask us to look into shifting to some other country,” she said.
Yatharth, another student in Toronto, echoed these sentiments, emphasising that there’s no panic among students, though their families back in India tend to worry. He pointed out that even during previous standoffs, Canada did not stop issuing student visas, suggesting that education remains a stable area despite political upheavals.
How are the developments affecting Indians aspiring to study Canada?
There is genuine consternation among students at home. Education consultants have already reported a significant dip in interest due to new restrictions on study permits — and say that diplomatic tensions will only enhance it. “I was planning to go to Canada, but my father asked me to reconsider,” said Arshdeep Kaur from Hoshiarpur.
Navpreet Singh, another aspirant, has put his plans on hold, saying, “I will wait and watch how things unfold between India and Canada before making any decision.”
Consultants in Punjab, like Gurpreet Singh from Kapurthala, observe that while the recent flare up is a political development ahead of the Canadian elections next year, students’ decisions are nonetheless getting influenced. He remarked that some students are now questioning the viability of studying in Canada due to visa processing concerns and potential future uncertainties.
“As both nations navigate this tense period, the fate of thousands of Indian aspirants hangs in the balance. Whether or not this diplomatic rift will significantly alter education routes remains to be seen,” Tirath Singh, another consultant, told The Indian Express.
