Canada Keeps Doors Open as Envoy Calls Now Best Time for Indian Students to Apply

Canadian High Commissioner Chris Cooter said this is the best time ever for Indian students to apply to Canada. He told Indian students and parents that Canada is not shutting its doors. Cooter spoke to the news agency ANI on June 22, 2026. He said student numbers still sit below Canada's 2026 study permit cap.

• Cooter said Canada now hosts 400,000 international students. India remains its top source country, per IRCC.
• Intake has not reached the 2026 international student cap of 408,000 study permits.
• Study permits to Indian students fell by half in 2025, IRCC figures show.

Canada's cap and college crackdown two years ago unsettled many Indian families. A perception spread that the country had turned unwelcoming. The envoy used the ANI interview to push back on that idea.

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Chris Cooter Says Canada Has Not Reached Its Cap

Cooter pushed back on the idea that Canada had closed its doors. "There is a kind of misperception in India that Canada is shutting the doors," he told ANI. "That is not at all the case," he added.

He linked the openness directly to the unfilled cap. "We haven't even reached those caps," Cooter said. "So actually, this is probably the best time ever to apply as an Indian student, because we want you there and there's space in these caps."

Canada's 2026 Study Permit Cap and What Changed

Canada first capped study permits two years ago. The government blamed a housing crunch and low-quality colleges. For 2026, IRCC set a target of up to 408,000 study permits.

That total splits into 155,000 permits for new arrivals and 253,000 for renewals. The figure is lower than recent years.

One change helps higher-degree applicants. Master's and PhD students at public universities are now exempt from the cap. They also skip the Provincial Attestation Letter from January 2026.

Why This Is a Reset Moment for Indian Students

India still sends more students to Canada than any other country. Yet, study permits for Indian students fell by half in 2025, according to IRCC. The drop followed the cap, the college clean-up, and a diplomatic rift.

Fewer applicants is exactly why space remains in the cap. Cooter tied the reset to a thaw in relations. He pointed to Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to India from February 27 to March 2, 2026.

The envoy also promised faster, steadier visa decisions. "We're actively at work on fixing those problems," he said. "I'd like to see us be best in class," Cooter added.

How Should Indian Students Apply to Canada Now?

You need a study permit for any programme over six months. Undergraduate and diploma applicants still need a Provincial Attestation Letter. They also count under the national cap.

You must show proof of funds for living costs. The minimum is a CAD 22,895 Guaranteed Investment Certificate, a blocked savings deposit. That works out to ₹15.2 lakh at ₹66.58 per Canadian dollar in June 2026. This sum sits on top of your first-year tuition fees. IRCC raised the amount in September 2025 for all 2026 applicants.

Pick a college on the Designated Learning Institution list. Only approved institutions lead to a work permit later.

Also Check: PGWP Canada

Cooter's message is blunt: the doors are open, and the cap has room. Study permits for Indian students have been halved in 2025, so competition has thinned. The 2026 cap stands at 408,000, with the January 2027 intake next. Apply early, fund the deposit, and pick a genuine institution.

Action Plan for Indian Students Eyeing Canada

1. Shortlist only Designated Learning Institutions that lead to a work permit.
2. Secure your Provincial Attestation Letter early if your course needs one.
3. Arrange the CAD 22,895 deposit, separate from first-year tuition.
4. Target the January 2027 or September 2027 intake while cap space lasts.
5. File your study permit early to beat any processing delays.