NEW DELHI, July 1, 2026 — Canada has reassured Indian students that its doors remain open to international education, with the country’s top diplomat in India describing the present as “probably the best time ever” for Indian students to apply for study permits.
Speaking to ANI, Canadian High Commissioner Chris Cooter dismissed the growing perception that Canada has become less welcoming to international students following recent changes to its immigration and student visa policies.
“There is a misconception in India that Canada is shutting its doors. That is simply not the case,” Cooter said.
He explained that Canada introduced temporary caps on international student admissions several years ago to address housing shortages and concerns about the quality of some private educational institutions. According to Cooter, those challenges have now been largely addressed.
“A couple of years ago we imposed a cap because there wasn’t enough housing and there were concerns about some fly-by-night colleges. We wanted to clean up the system, and we’ve done that,” he said.
Canada currently hosts approximately 400,000 international students and continues to offer world-class education through its universities, colleges and polytechnic institutions. Cooter encouraged Indian students and their families to consider Canada for higher education, emphasizing the country’s strong academic reputation and welcoming environment.
“We provide a very high-quality education, whether that’s at a university or one of our colleges,” he said.
The High Commissioner also highlighted the international reputation of Canadian institutions such as McGill University and the University of Toronto, both of which consistently rank among the world’s leading universities.
Referring to the current student intake limits, Cooter noted that Canada has not yet reached its international student cap, leaving significant room for qualified applicants.
“Students are very welcome. We haven’t even reached those caps. This is probably the best time ever for Indian students to apply because we want you there, and there is still space available,” he said.
Responding to concerns about visa processing delays, Cooter said the Canadian government is actively working to improve the efficiency of its visa system.
“I’d like to see us become best in class. If visas are required, let’s process them better than anybody else. We are working very actively to achieve that,” he said.
Canada has traditionally been one of the most popular destinations for Indian students, offering globally recognized qualifications, multicultural campuses, post-graduation work opportunities and pathways to permanent residence.
Source: Adapted from ANI/NDTV.