Canada’s visa rule changes are likely to affect thousands of Indian students, workers and tourists from January 31, 2025, as new immigration regulations provide officers with the authority to cancel study and work permits under certain conditions. The new Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations that came into effect on January 31, 2025, enforce tighter rules after the cancellation of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program in late 2024.
The SDS program had also helped Indian students to fast track their visa by requiring them to submit proof of funds like tuition fees and guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) for living expenses. So far, Canadian border officials have been able to cancel eTAs and TRVs, but now they can do so more easily.
It is a blow to many Indians because Canada is still a top choice for higher education. At present, there are about 4,27,000 Indian students in Canadian institutions, as stated by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. This is because between January and July 2024, Canada issued 3,65,750 visitor visas to Indian nationals.
The visas can be cancelled on the following grounds; providing false information, having a criminal record, being dead, failing to convince the official that you will be leaving Canada once your stay is up, or problems with your travel documents like loss or theft. Furthermore, if a student or worker is denied a visa renewal or their temporary status is changed to permanent residency, the documents may be invalid.
It has been estimated that about 7,000 more temporary resident visas, work permits and study permits could be affected. The IRCC has stated that the affected people will be notified through their IRCC account or email. Those who are denied entry will be turned back at the border while Canadians with cancelled permits already in the country will be told to leave by a certain date.
