A big drop in Canadian study permits issued

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It’s getting tougher to immigrate to Canada.

The Canadian government has tightened its rules to curb illegal migration and this is impacting students from around the world who wish to pursue higher education in the country.

The new rules came into effect on January 31.

Students have reported sudden cancellations of study permits, greater visa scrutiny and stricter enforcement.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has projected 7,000 permit revocations this year, affecting a significant portion of the nearly half million Indian students in Canada, reports Business Today publication.

Students whose permits are revoked may be forced to leave the country unless they successfully appeal—a process that can cost at least C$1,500 with no guaranteed outcome.

The government has also given border officials greater authority to cancel temporary resident documents like electronic travel authorisations (eTAs) and temporary resident visas (TRVs) if a person is deemed ineligible, inadmissible, or fails to convince officials they will leave Canada when required.

Even lost, stolen, or erroneously issued documents can now be cancelled.

Students also risk losing their immigration status if they are denied a work or study visa, potentially disrupting their education and employment prospects after graduation.