Telangana: Indian Students Opting For Canadian Colleges Decline
The Canadian government has tightened the student application process. Students must now provide a valid letter of acceptance from a recognised designated learning institution before applying for a study permit": An immigration consultant from Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: The number of Indian students choosing Canada for higher education has fallen sharply over the past two years, largely due to the impact of tighter immigration policies and stricter study permit rules introduced by the Canadian government.
Official figures show that 1,88,125 Indian students entered Canada in 2024. The quarterly intake stood at 44,275 in the first quarter, 55,630 in the second, 52,405 in the third and 40,480 in the final quarter of 2024.
But the numbers dropped by nearly half in 2025, with only 93,840 Indian students that year. Quarterly arrivals declined to 29,935 in the first quarter, 17,555 in the second, 23,595 in the third and 27,790 in the fourth.
The downward trend has continued in the first two quarters of 2026 as well. During the first half of the year, Canada received only 28,350 Indian students, with 17,425 in the first quarter and 11,220 in the second quarter until May of 2026. While figures for June of 2026 are yet to be released, the data points to another year of declining enrolment.
Immigration experts said the fall comes after Canada introduced several measures to reduce the number of international students entering the country. In January 2024, Ottawa announced a national cap on new study permits to ease pressure on housing, healthcare and other public services. The cap has since remained in place, with provinces receiving fixed allocations for study permit applications.
M. Dinesh, an immigration consultant from Hyderabad, said, “The Canadian government has tightened the student application process. Students must now provide a valid letter of acceptance from a recognised designated learning institution before applying for a study permit, and many students must also submit a Provincial Attestation Letter or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL or TAL), confirming that their province has allocated a study permit space.”
Canada's Immigration Levels Plan has also, for the first time, included targets for temporary residents, including international students, signalling a shift towards controlling the overall number of newcomers entering the country.
“The rules have become stricter even after students arrive in Canada. Authorities now require students changing institutions to apply for a new study permit, while study permits generally expire 90 days after course completion. Immigration officials have also increased checks on students' academic progress and compliance with visa conditions,” Dinesh added.
The changing policies have made many prospective students reconsider their plans for Canada as a study destination. Rising tuition fees, higher living costs and uncertainty over post-graduation work opportunities have also contributed to the decline, experts said.