Recent data showed a decline in study permits processed for Indian students in Canada. Applications processed for Indian students are down more than 40% since July 2023.
Almost 146,000 new Canada Study Permit applications for Indian students were processed by the government between July and October of 2022. However, the government has processed fewer than 87,000 study permit applications across the same period in 2023.
It means that over the same period in 2022, fewer than 60,000 student visas were processed for Indian students from July to October 2023. As per some recently released articles, this decline may be the result of more and more international students posting on social media platforms about the hardships that they faced to Study in Canada from India. These students specifically called out the high cost of living.
Steps Taken by the Canadian Government to Address the Increased Cost of Living
The government of Canada has introduced and retained several policies in response to the inflationary pressures and increased cost of living, to help residents with their expenses. A variety of measures are included in the Affordability Plan which represents $ 12.1 billion CAD investment of the Canadian government to increase affordability across the country.
Cutting childcare fees by 50% in Ontario, increasing the Old Age Security (OAS) pension by 10% for seniors, and indexing various benefits to be consistent with inflation are some of the measures. The cost of living requirement for study permit applicants will be raised by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, as of January 1st. During the early 2000s, the latest requirement was brought in and has not been adjusted since.
Student vulnerability and exploitation will be prevented by preparing students for the higher cost of living in Canada by adjusting this requirement as stated by IRCC. Many programs in most provinces cater to their residents, which include worker benefits, employment assistance for childcare, and financial aid for medical expenses.
Will Fewer Indian Students Come to Canada in the Future?
To assess the impact of actual student inflows, study approval rates need to be examined. Rates for study permit approval of Indian students have continued to increase. As a matter of fact, 32000 more Indian students were approved to study in Canada despite the drop in applications processed from January to September this year than last year.
A record 551,405 international students from 184 countries were welcomed by Canada in 2022. With 226,450 Indian students, India was the number one source country of new international students entering Canada in 2022. Canada is on track to surpass the total number of student visas approved for Indian students in 2022.
Depending on how the current approval rate holds, it is projected that 200,000 to 210,000 Indian students will be approved to study in Canada in 2023 if processing volumes remain near half of 2022 totals. Best Study Abroad Consultants in India, Oasis Visas will help you to study in Canada in 2024.
International Students beyond India
Students from other countries than India are still very interested in coming to Canada to study. There was an increase of 34% in the number of study permits processed for all other countries from July to October 2023, in particular. Study permits processed are up 52% from the total of last year, as of December 2023. Indian students have accounted for just 36% in 2023, even after the submission of nearly half of all student visas processed last year.
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