Canada has announced major changes to its immigration policies, potentially affecting millions of workers, including a substantial number of Indians. Immigration Minister Marc Miller disclosed that close to five million temporary permits held by foreign nationals are scheduled to expire by the end of 2025. Unless these permit holders transition to permanent residency or successfully renew their permits, most are expected to leave the country.
Miller informed the Commons immigration committee earlier this week many are anticipated to leave of their own accord, while the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) will enforce immigration laws for those who overstay.
He said that about 766,000 study permits are set to expire by December 2025, noting that some students may renew their permits or apply for post-graduate work permits, enabling them to remain in Canada longer.

Why Canada is bringing new rules

The Trudeau government has introduced reductions in the number of both permanent and temporary residents entering Canada over the next three years. These changes are part of a revised immigration levels plan aimed at addressing Canada’s housing, healthcare and infrastructure challenges.

What are the key changes in Canada’s immigration rules

Under the new policy, the annual target for permanent residents will decrease from 500,000 to 395,000 by 2025, representing a 21% reduction, as per a report in The Economic Times.
Temporary foreign workers and international students will also see cuts, with the number of temporary foreign workers expected to drop by more than 40% and international students by 10% by 2026.

What it means for Indians working and studying in Canada

Canada is one of the preferred destinations for Indians looking to immigrate to other countries. According to a September report, Canada has 1,689,055 Indians living in the country. The Indian diaspora in the country has workers such as C-suite executives, engineers, technicians and scientists, among others.
The plan to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers may affect Indian workers on temporary visas, making it more challenging to renew or extend their stay. For those already in the process of getting permanent residency in the country may also be impacted.