An internal Canadian government document has revealed concerns that some Indian international students entered into marriages of convenience to enable their spouses to obtain open work permits in Canada, highlighting one of several integrity issues that prompted Ottawa to tighten its international student policies.
The information comes from a 2025 internal report prepared by Canada’s High Commission in New Delhi and later obtained through Canada’s Access to Information Act. The report discusses a range of concerns surrounding the International Student Program, including fraudulent marriages, language testing irregularities and changing migration trends among Indian students.
According to the report, some Indian students facing the high cost of tuition and living expenses in Canada allegedly entered into arranged or convenience marriages that allowed their spouses to qualify for open work permits. Once in Canada, the spouses could work full-time and financially support the student’s education and living expenses.
The report stated that such marriage arrangements were reportedly being advertised openly through Indian newspapers and dating applications, raising concerns about misuse of Canada’s immigration system. Canadian officials described these relationships as marriages entered into primarily for immigration purposes rather than genuine family relationships.
The issue became particularly significant because, until 2024, spouses of most international students studying undergraduate programs were eligible for open work permits, allowing them to work for almost any employer in Canada. Immigration officials believed that this policy unintentionally created an incentive for some applicants to misuse the program.
In response, the federal government introduced major reforms beginning in January 2024. Under changes announced by then Immigration Minister Marc Miller, spouses of most undergraduate international students were no longer eligible for open work permits. The restrictions were further strengthened in January 2025, limiting eligibility primarily to spouses of students enrolled in master’s programs lasting at least sixteen months, doctoral programs and a limited number of designated professional degree programs.
The internal communication, written by Han Duan, First Secretary (Migration) at Canada’s High Commission in New Delhi, indicated that these policy changes significantly altered migration patterns among Indian students. According to the report, many prospective students who previously considered Canada began choosing countries such as Germany, Sweden and Finland, where spouses continue to receive broader work authorization.
The report also noted that similar declines in Indian student applications had been observed in countries including the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand after they implemented comparable restrictions on family visas for international students.
Official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) statistics illustrate the dramatic decline in Indian student numbers. Canada issued study permits to approximately 277,950 Indian students in 2023. That figure dropped to 188,125 in 2024 before declining further to 93,840 in 2025. The reduction has created financial challenges for many Canadian colleges and universities, which had become increasingly dependent on international student tuition revenue.
Immigration lawyer Richard Kurland, who obtained the internal report through an Access to Information request, argued that Canada has the right to determine who is admitted under its international student program. He stated that study permits should be granted to individuals who have the financial resources to study in Canada without relying on immigration arrangements designed primarily to obtain employment opportunities for accompanying spouses.
However, migrant advocacy organizations offered a different perspective. Syed Hussan, Executive Director of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, suggested that many prospective students are choosing destinations where they can remain together with their families throughout their studies. He also argued that frequent changes to Canada’s immigration policies have created uncertainty, discouraging many students from applying because eligibility requirements often change after they have already made significant financial commitments.
Beyond marriage-related concerns, the internal report identified additional integrity issues involving study permit applications from India. Canadian officials expressed concerns about declining application quality and questioned whether some applicants possessed the level of English-language proficiency indicated by their test results. According to the report, targeted integrity reviews uncovered cases that raised serious questions about the reliability of language testing documentation submitted with certain applications.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada emphasized that the government continues to recognize the valuable contributions international students make to Canada’s research, innovation and economic development. The department stated that recent reforms were intended to strengthen the integrity of the International Student Program while ensuring that genuine students continue to benefit from opportunities to study in Canada.
IRCC also stressed that immigration officers receive specialized training to detect fraud involving marriages, common-law relationships and other family sponsorship arrangements. If officers determine that a relationship is not genuine or was entered into primarily to obtain immigration status, the application can be refused. Individuals found to have committed marriage fraud may face serious consequences, including removal orders, loss of immigration status and deportation from Canada for misrepresentation.
The revelations contained in the internal report underscore Canada’s continuing efforts to balance the economic and educational benefits of welcoming international students with the need to maintain the integrity of its immigration system. As Ottawa continues reviewing its international student policies, officials are expected to place greater emphasis on ensuring that study permits are used for genuine educational purposes while preventing abuse of immigration pathways intended to support legitimate students and their families.
Courtesy: The Globe and Mail