Canada’s New Immigration Rules: Impact on Indian Students, Workers, and Tourists

Canada’s latest immigration regulations, effective January 31, 2025, grant officials expanded authority to cancel study and work permits under specific conditions. This change, coupled with the discontinuation of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program in late 2024, is expected to affect thousands of Indian students, workers, and tourists.

The SDS program had previously expedited visa processing for students who could demonstrate financial preparedness by prepaying tuition fees and securing Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) for living expenses, according to CanadaVisa.com.

Under the revised Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, border officials now have the power to revoke temporary resident documents such as electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) and temporary resident visas (TRVs). This poses a significant concern for many Indians, as Canada remains a top destination for higher education. Currently, around 427,000 Indian students are studying in Canada, per data from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Additionally, Canada issued 365,750 visitor visas to Indians between January and July 2024.

Conditions for Visa Cancellation

Visas and permits can now be revoked under the following circumstances:

• Submission of false information, criminal records, or death of the applicant.
• An officer is unconvinced that the individual will leave Canada after their authorized stay.
• Lost, stolen, or destroyed documents, or those issued due to administrative errors.
• Temporary residents who become permanent residents.
• Students whose work or study visa applications are denied.

Increased Cancellations Expected

Due to these regulatory changes, approximately 7,000 additional temporary resident visas, work permits, and study permits may be canceled, as per an NDTV report. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has stated that affected individuals will receive notifications via their IRCC account or email.

Those denied entry at the border will be sent back to their home country immediately. If a permit is revoked while the individual is already in Canada, they will be issued a notice to leave by a specified date.

These policy shifts mark a significant change in Canada’s immigration landscape, with far-reaching implications for Indian nationals seeking education, work, or travel opportunities in the country.