30% drop in visa applications as students ‘lose interest’ in Canada

Avneet Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 7

Students’ interest in studying in Canada has declined with immigration firms reporting a 25 to 30 per cent drop in visa applications from January to July as compared to the same period in 2023.

This decrease is attributed to recent changes in the Canadian immigration regulations, which have introduced uncertainty for prospective students and their families.

The new regulations from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have restricted Spousal Open Work Permits to spouses of students enrolled in specific professional degree programmes at institutions. Additionally, the elimination of work permits for international students attending public-private partnership institutions has complicated job prospects, leaving many students uncertain about their work authorisation status.

Gaurav Soni, manager of the Recruitment and Business Development at Cambrian College, Canada, addressed these concerns during a recent event with students and media at an immigration firm centre.

He explained that while the previous measures such as raising the Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) requirement from $10,000 to $20,635, capping study permits at 3,60,000 for 2024 and the introduction of Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) were understandable and beneficial for both international students as well the Canadian government in the long run, the recent regulatory changes regarding work permits had created significant confusion.

Soni pointed out that the increased GIC amount was actually aimed at reducing financial strain on students who struggle in their initial days while managing both college and work, however, the lack of clarity regarding work permit regulations had led to widespread uncertainty.

“Students, who have recently moved to Canada, are still eligible for work permits. However, the ambiguity surrounding the new regulations and their effective dates has resulted in a surge of enquiries and created a negative perception in the minds of aspiring students,” Soni said.

Sumit Jain, a member of the IRCC and owner of the firm, confirmed a decline in enquiries and applications due to the regulatory changes. He said he had observed a 20 to 25 per cent reduction in study visa applications from January to July 2024 as compared to the previous year. Jain emphasised that there’s a need for clearer communication and more detailed guidance from the IRCC to help students and their families navigate these changes effectively.

Bhavnoor Bedi, owner of another immigration firm, said there was confusion among the aspiring students related to work permits and job market, therefore, the number of applications had gone down. He said the elimination of work permits for international students at public-private partnership institutions and the extension of spousal open work permits to spouses of students in specific professional programs at designated institutions is effective since May, however, there are no changes in work permit rules for undergraduate and postgraduate programs in public colleges or universities.

“These measures actually aim to reduce student enrollments, which have decreased now, and address Canada's job market and housing crisis ahead of the upcoming elections”, he added.

Pupils still hopeful

Students pursuing IELTS and have plans to move to Canada say that several factors, including strong social security system, comprehensive health and life coverage, quality of life and competitive wages, attracted them to move to Canada. They anticipate that once the Canadian polls are concluded and new regulations are clarified, the picture may change and the number of students aspiring to move to Canada may increase.

Study permits for students

In 2023, Canada issued 6,82,430 study permits, with Indian students receiving 2,78,335 of these. As of mid-2024, Canada has issued 2,16,620 study permits, with Indian students accounting for 91,510 as per data available on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

(IRCC) on their website