Nearly 50,000 international students granted study permits for Canada failed to attend their designated schools during spring checks in 2024, according to government figures obtained by The Globe and Mail.
The absences, documented through the International Student Compliance Regime’s biannual reporting system, represented 6.9% of students from 144 countries tracked by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada during March and April.
Educational institutions failed to report the status of an additional 23,514 students, prompting concerns about tracking accuracy. Statistics Canada’s count of over one million valid permit holders significantly exceeds immigration department enrollment figures.
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Indian nationals comprised the largest group of absent students, with almost 20,000 not attending classes — amounting to 5.4% of Indian students tracked. Non-compliance rates varied dramatically by country, from 2.2% for the Philippines to 48.1% for Rwanda.
Indian authorities are investigating potential links between Canadian colleges and organizations allegedly facilitating illegal U.S. border crossings. The RCMP has requested additional information through international channels.
Henry Lotin, former federal economist, suggests most absent Indian students likely remained in Canada pursuing work and residency, noting a record rise in student asylum claims. He recommends requiring upfront fee payment to reduce system abuse.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller introduced stricter rules in November, including year-long suspensions for institutions failing to submit compliance reports. “Canada has seen an increase in exploitation of its temporary resident visas,” said ministerial spokesperson Renée LeBlanc Proctor.
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