Canada may cancel thousands of Indian temp visas

The Canadian government is considering granting new powers to revoke large numbers of temporary resident visas (TRVs) in cases of suspected fraud or widespread abuse, according to internal documents reviewed by India Today. The move could significantly impact visa holders and applicants from India and Bangladesh, two countries that have recently seen a sharp increase in visa rejections and asylum claims.

Sources within Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) confirmed that the proposal would allow the immigration minister to cancel multiple visas at once, rather than reviewing them on a case-by-case basis. The measure is being discussed as part of Ottawa’s broader efforts to maintain the integrity of its immigration system amid growing concerns about fraudulent applications and misuse of student visas.

While the draft legislation does not explicitly mention any nationality, officials have identified India and Bangladesh as “priority countries” for monitoring due to a surge in asylum claims. Reports indicate that asylum requests from Indian nationals rose from fewer than 500 per month in mid-2023 to nearly 2,000 per month by mid-2024.

The study permit rejection rate for Indian students also climbed sharply—from 32% in 2023 to 74% in 2025—as Canada tightened its screening processes and introduced new measures to verify the authenticity of applications.

Immigration experts warn that large-scale cancellations could create uncertainty for thousands of international students and workers already in Canada. Critics also argue that the proposed powers may raise concerns over due process and transparency, as individuals could lose their visas without individualized assessments.

Canadian authorities, however, maintain that the move is necessary to protect the country’s immigration framework from exploitation and to ensure that visa programs are used for their intended purposes.

The proposed policy is still under review, and no final decision has been made. Officials are expected to release further details in the coming weeks as consultations with legal and immigration bodies continue.