In a significant shift, Canada has introduced new visa cancellation rules in 2025 that could directly affect thousands of Indian students and temporary workers residing in the country.
The updated policies, aimed at tightening immigration compliance, grant broader powers to immigration officers to revoke or refuse visas on grounds of misrepresentation, document inconsistencies, or non-compliance with study or work permit conditions. This move follows growing concerns over fraudulent applications and the misuse of the visa system.
Tighter Scrutiny on Student and Work Visa Holders
Under the new rules, international students are now expected to show continued enrollment and academic progress throughout their stay. Those who drop out or fail to meet minimum academic standards risk having their study permits cancelled.
Similarly, temporary foreign workers must adhere strictly to the terms of their work permits, including the employer, job role, and location specified. Any deviation without prior approval can trigger automatic revocation of the visa.
How This Impacts Indian Nationals in Canada
Indian nationals make up one of the largest groups of international students and skilled workers in Canada. These new rules could lead to increased rejections, delays, and deportations for those who do not carefully follow the updated guidelines.
Several Indian students who had taken semester breaks or changed colleges without notifying Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may now face cancellation notices. Workers switching employers informally or engaging in secondary jobs not permitted under their visas are also at risk.
Mandatory Reporting and Compliance Checks
The 2025 changes include provisions for mandatory reporting by designated learning institutions (DLIs) and employers. Colleges must now notify the IRCC of any change in student status, including academic failure or dropouts.
Employers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program must report unauthorized absences or changes in job conditions. These real-time reporting requirements are meant to plug gaps that previously allowed many violations to go undetected.
What Affected Individuals Should Do Now
Indian students and workers currently in Canada are advised to immediately review their visa terms, maintain proper documentation, and report any status changes to IRCC.
Legal immigration consultants suggest proactively seeking extensions or clarifications where needed, rather than assuming informal changes are acceptable. Failure to comply with the updated rules can result not only in visa cancellation but also a future ban from re-entering Canada.