Around 50,000 international students given study permits in Canada in 2024 did not enrol at the colleges and universities where they were accepted, according to government data reported by Immigration News Canada.
This figure, which accounts for 6.9% of every international student tracked by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has raised concerns over Canada international student compliance system’s effectiveness.
India ranked top of the list with around 20,000 “no-show” students, followed by:
•China: 4,200 students
•Nigeria: 3,900 students
•Ghana: 2,700 students
Other countries that make up the top 10 are Iran, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Rwanda, and the Philippines.
Experts attribute the increase in non-compliance to factors like exploitation by fraudulent agents, aspirations to cross into the U.S. illegally, and determination to prioritize work or permanent residency over education.
The revelation aligns with efforts by the Canadian government to reduce the migrant influx.
Nigerian Canadian Newspaper Canada
