Major setback to Punjabis, Canadian government cuts student visas by 35%

Ottawa: The Government of Canada has introduced new student visa reforms that will impact Indian students. Student visas have been reduced by 35%, and Immigration Minister Mark Miller has set a cap on the number of student visas granted over the next two years to address institutional issues and control the influx of international students.

The federal government aims to approve 360,000 undergraduate study permits for 2024, reflecting a 35% decrease from 2023. This decision could significantly affect Indian students, who constitute over 41% of permits in 2022.

In 2023, more than 300,000 Indian students went to Canada, as reported by CBC News.

The new system allocates permits to provinces and territories based on population, reducing growth in areas where the international student population is considered unstable.

Each region has autonomy in distributing permits to universities and colleges. This arrangement will be effective for two years, with a planned re-evaluation in 2025.