OTTAWA, Ontario (Diya TV)— The number of Indian undergraduate students applying to study in Canada has dropped sharply after the Canadian government tightened rules for spouses of international students, according to an internal government communication obtained through access to information laws.
The internal report shows that many Indian students once depended on spousal open work permits to help cover the high cost of education and living in Canada. However, Ottawa changed the policy in 2024 and stopped issuing most of those permits for spouses of undergraduate students. As a result, many students started looking at other countries that still allow spouses to work.
The 2025 email came from Han Duan, first secretary for migration at Canada’s High Commission in New Delhi. She sent the report to senior officials at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The email outlined several concerns about the integrity of Canada’s international student program. It also highlighted cases involving marriages of convenience among some Indian applicants.
According to the report, some people advertised marriages linked to Canadian immigration through Indian newspapers and dating apps. These arrangements reportedly helped students bring spouses to Canada with open work permits. Those permits allowed spouses to work for almost any employer and contribute to household income while the student completed their education.
However, the policy changed in early 2024. Then-Immigration Minister Marc Miller ended open work permits for spouses of most undergraduate international students. Later, in January 2025, Canada tightened the rules again. Under the updated policy, only spouses of students enrolled in doctoral programs, master’s programs lasting at least 16 months, or selected professional programs can qualify for open work permits.
As these changes took effect, many Indian applicants reportedly turned to other destinations. The internal email said Germany, Sweden and Finland saw increases in interest from Indian students because those countries still offer spousal visas. The report also noted that Britain, Australia and New Zealand experienced similar declines in Indian study permit applications after introducing comparable restrictions.
Although the email did not provide detailed figures for those countries, Canadian government data showed a significant decline in Indian study permit holders. Canada recorded 277,950 Indian study permit holders in 2023. That number fell to 188,125 in 2024. It dropped again to 93,840 in 2025. The decline has affected colleges and universities that depend on international student tuition for revenue.
Richard Kurland, an immigration lawyer who obtained the email through an access to information request, supported the government’s approach. He said Canada has the right to select students who can afford to study without relying on employment through a spouse. He also argued that study permits should not become a pathway for immigration through convenience marriages.
Meanwhile, Syed Hussan, executive director of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, offered a different view. He said many students choose countries where families can stay together. He also said frequent immigration policy changes create uncertainty for international students. According to Hussan, applicants often arrive under one set of rules only to see those rules change before completing their studies.
The internal report also raised concerns beyond spousal work permits. Duan wrote that officials noticed a decline in both the number and quality of some study permit applications from India after Canada introduced stricter immigration measures. She also pointed to concerns about English-language proficiency among certain applicants.
A targeted review of study permit applications reportedly found cases where applicants held language certificates but struggled to demonstrate the required English skills. The report described those findings as a serious concern for the integrity of Canada’s international student program.
In response, IRCC said international students continue to play an important role in Canada’s economy, research and innovation. However, the department said recent reforms aim to strengthen the student visa system while protecting genuine applicants. IRCC also said immigration officers receive training to detect fraud, including marriages entered primarily for immigration purposes.
The department added that officers carefully examine relationships before approving applications. If officials believe a marriage is not genuine, they can refuse the application. In addition, authorities may issue removal orders against people who commit marriage fraud through misrepresentation.
