Canada Immigration’s regulatory amendments have sparked significant discussion among international students, particularly those from India. These changes, which took effect on January 31, 2025, giving power to border officials to cancel temporary resident documents under clearly defined conditions.
New Regulatory Measures
Canadian authorities have revised the regulations to grant immigration and border officers the power to cancel electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), temporary resident visas (TRVs), work permits, and study permits. Officers may cancel these documents if they have reasonable grounds to doubt that an individual will leave Canada when their stay ends. Additionally, cancellations may occur if a document is issued due to an administrative error or if the associated travel document is lost, stolen, destroyed, or abandoned. The rules also provide for automatic cancellation in cases where the holder becomes a permanent resident or passes away. These amendments, published in the Canada Gazette II, aim to improve consistency in decision-making and align Canada’s procedures with those in other nations.
Effects on International Students
A significant consequence of these changes is the uncertainty faced by international students. Over 420,000 Indian students are studying in Canada, and many now worry about the possibility of sudden cancellations of their study permits. The revised regulations mean that if an application for a work or study permit is refused during the process, or if there are doubts about an individual’s intent to depart Canada at the end of their authorized stay, the relevant permit may be cancelled at any time. This development follows the termination of the Student Direct Stream program in November 2024, which had previously eased the process for securing study permits.
For students and their families, the risk of permit cancellation carries practical and financial consequences. A cancelled document can result in immediate travel disruptions, reapplication delays, and potential financial losses. These losses might include non-refundable tuition fees, accommodation costs, and other related expenses. According to a regulatory impact analysis, the new measures could lead to roughly 7,000 additional cancellations of temporary resident documents each year. Affected individuals are expected to be informed through their IRCC accounts or via email, along with details of the reasons behind the cancellation.
The updated regulations have already been put into practice, with immigration officers receiving updated guidance and training to ensure consistent application of the new rules. The process includes notifying those impacted promptly to allow for swift corrective measures where possible. While the rules are designed to enhance border security and uphold the integrity of Canada’s immigration system, they also introduce uncertainty for those who have made substantial investments in their education and future in Canada.
Transition costs for updating program instructions, IT systems, and officer training are estimated at approximately $889,754 PV, while ongoing costs for IRCC and CBSA, covering risk management, processing, and monitoring, add up to about $5.3 million PV over ten years. Although the overall impact on foreign nationals is expected to be minimal because many cancellations already occur under existing practices, affected individuals may experience delays in reissuing documents, acquire cancellation records that could affect future applications, and face travel disruptions or financial losses. The clarified cancellation authorities are designed to prevent inadmissible travellers from entering Canada, align the country with similar international practices, and streamline processing by saving officer time.
