Canada's top envoy says now is best time for Indian students, but data shows sharp decline in arrivals

Canadian High Commissioner to India Chris Cooter has stated that this is “probably the best time ever” for Indian students to apply to Canada, asserting that the country has not reached its international student cap. However, official data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) indicates a steep drop in new international student arrivals and reduced immigration targets.

According to the latest IRCC figures, Canada welcomed 7,040 new international students in January 2026. This is approximately 37 per cent lower than the number recorded in January 2025. Overall temporary resident arrivals also fell by nearly 28 per cent year-on-year, while temporary worker arrivals declined by around 20 per cent.

In an interview with ANI, Cooter said there is a “misperception” in India that Canada has closed its doors to international students. “We haven’t even reached those caps. So actually, this is probably the best time ever to apply as an Indian student, because we want you there and there’s space in these caps,” he said. The envoy added that the cap introduced a few years ago was aimed at addressing housing shortages and removing low-quality institutions from the system.

Canada first introduced limits on international student intake after concerns over housing shortages, pressure on public services and the rapid growth of private colleges. Cooter said the cap was imposed because there “simply wasn’t enough housing” and authorities also wanted to deal with “fly-by-night colleges”. He said those issues have since been addressed. The cap, however, remains in place in 2026.

IRCC has said it expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits this year, including permit extensions. From January 2026, master’s and doctoral students at public institutions will be exempt from Provincial and Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) requirements, although the overall cap continues.

The decline in new student arrivals has continued into 2026. According to IRCC data, Canada received 7,040 new international students in January 2026. Temporary worker arrivals stood at 11,850. The slowdown has also been visible during peak admission periods. August, traditionally Canada’s busiest intake season, saw international student arrivals fall from nearly 79,725 in 2024 to about 45,010 in 2025.

Official IRCC data also shows that the number of people whose study permits became effective in Canada rose steadily before and after the pandemic, peaking in 2023 before declining over the past two years. In 2023, 680,700 study permits became effective; in 2024, 514,710; and in 2025, 381,310. As of early 2026, more than 4.27 lakh Indian students were studying in Canada. Reports have linked the decline in fresh admissions to stricter visa rules, higher refusal rates and policy changes introduced over the past two years.

Under the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, the Canadian government has reduced targets for temporary residents while stabilising permanent immigration levels. The plan sets a target of 155,000 new international student arrivals in 2026, which is 49 per cent lower than the previous year’s target. The target for new temporary work permits has also been cut significantly.