Canada is facing a significant international student compliance crisis, with nearly 47,175 foreign nationals potentially violating their visa conditions by not attending classes, according to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The revelation came during a House of Commons committee hearing, where Aiesha Zafar, head of migration integrity at IRCC, said these individuals entered the country on study permits but may now be “non-compliant” and ineligible to remain in Canada.
The compliance issue arises from the requirement that all international students must actively attend classes to maintain their visa status. However, many have reportedly failed to do so, effectively turning their student visas into a backdoor entry into Canada. Zafar highlighted that the figure came from post-secondary institutions that reported losing contact with thousands of their registered international students.
India Tops the List of Non-Compliance Cases
When asked about the countries with the highest levels of student visa violations, Zafar identified India as one of the top contributors. In fact, earlier IRCC data revealed that during spring 2024, more than 50,000 foreign students were marked as “no-shows” by their institutions. Of those, 19,582 were Indian nationals — the largest group — followed by 4,279 students from China.
Challenges in Tracking and Enforcement
Tracking non-compliant students remains a major hurdle. IRCC relies heavily on educational institutions to report absences, but there’s no independent mechanism to trace individuals if a school fails to notify the agency. Once reported, cases are referred to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which is responsible for locating and removing individuals who are in violation of their visa terms.
“The CBSA has an inland investigation team that handles such cases,” Zafar explained. However, the lack of a comprehensive monitoring system means many non-compliant students could remain undetected.
Broader Implications
The findings raise concerns about loopholes in Canada’s international education system — a sector that contributes billions to the economy. Experts warn that without stronger enforcement and better coordination between schools, IRCC, and CBSA, Canada risks undermining the credibility of its immigration system.
60-Word Summary:
Nearly 47,175 foreign students in Canada may be illegally
