Significant decline in Indian students studying overseas: first simultaneous decline in five years in Canada, the US, and the UK

According to an examination of the most recent visa data by The Indian Express, the number of Indian students traveling to international institutions has decreased concurrently for the first time in five years in the top three destination nations: Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.According to the data, the number of Indian students obtaining study permits in these important locations fell by at least 25% in 2024. Permits fell from 2.78 lakh to 1.89 lakh in Canada, a 32% decrease, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Between fiscal years 2023 and 2024, F1 visas in the US fell from 1,31,000 to 86,110, a 34% decline that was much more pronounced. According to UK Home Office data, sponsored student visas granted to Indians fell from 1,20,000 to 88,732, a 26% decrease in the UK.This decline coincides with tighter immigration laws in a number of nations, most notably Canada and the UK, which have instituted restrictions on dependent visas and caps on student enrollment, frequently in response to mounting worries about the strain on public services caused by large numbers of international students and housing shortages.

Indian students are subject to a number of recent limitations imposed by Canada. These include declaring intentions to cut the proportion of temporary residents to 5% of the whole population by 2026 and terminating the expedited Student Direct Stream program. Canada implemented a cap on study permits in 2024, which caused a 35% decrease from the year before. For 2025, an additional 10% cut has been announced. The administration has defended these actions by claiming that rising numbers of overseas students put a strain on public resources like housing and healthcare.