The number of study permits to Indian students in Canada saw a significant decline in late last year. This decline was attributed to the expulsion of Canadian diplomats by India, who were responsible for processing the permits. Additionally, fewer Indian students applied for permits due to a diplomatic conflict related to the murder of a Khalistani terrorist in Canada, a top Canadian official told the media.
In an interview, Immigration Minister Marc Miller expressed his belief that the number of study permits to Indian students is unlikely to recover quickly. Diplomatic tensions escalated following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement in June, suggesting evidence linking Indian agents to the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
The tensions are likely to weigh on the numbers going forward, Miller said.
"Our relationship with India has really halved our ability to process a lot of applications from India," Miller said.
In October, Canada faced a significant diplomatic setback when New Delhi ordered the withdrawal of 41 diplomats, which accounted for two-thirds of its staff in India. Furthermore, the ongoing dispute has motivated Indian students to explore educational opportunities in other nations, as confirmed by a spokeswoman for the minister.
As a result of these factors, the issuance of study permits to Indian students in the fourth quarter of the previous year witnessed an astounding 86% decline, plummeting from 108,940 to 14,910, according to official data that had not been disclosed previously.