More than a million Indians working and studying in Canada are presently at risk of deportation due to visa expiry issues. The country plans to welcome significantly fewer foreigners across most immigration categories till 2028 under a newly introduced policy. Officials have also been authorised to suspend applications partway through the process under certain conditions.
The changes introduced by Prime Minister Mark Carney will see the government cap numbers drastically till 2028 — including permanent residents, international students, temporary workers, and refugees. The move is likely to take a severe toll on Indians who make up a large part of the immigrant population in Canada — with tens of thousands risking deportation in the coming months.
According to a Hindustan Times report, more than a million people saw their work permits expire by the end of 2025. The publication cited data obtained from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada by immigration consultant Kanwar Seirah to add that another 927,000 permits are set to expire in 2026. Foreigners working in the country will lose their legal status if they fail to secure another visa or transition to permanent residency.
What are the changes in immigration policy?
Canada has begun tightening its immigration rules in recent weeks and reduced intake for multiple visa categories. The cap for permanent residency has been reduced to 380,000 in 2026 — down from 395,000 in 2025 and much lower than 483,000 in 2024.
Only 230,000 temporary foreign workers will be taken in 2026 (down from 367,750 in 2025), while the target number for ‘refugee and protected persons’ has been curtailed by nearly 12,000 people. Student admissions are also set to fall as Canada allocated 155,000 new student visas for 2026 — with an even lower figure of 150,000 planned for 2027 and 2028. The total number of temporary resident admissions will drop from 673,650 in 2025 to 385,000 in 2026, and further to 370,000 in 2027 and 2028.
What happens after a work permit/visa expires?
The undocumented population threatens to expand rapidly this year amidst the policy changes. Temporary residents are given 90 days to apply for restoration through IRCC when their documents expire. They have to pay a $255 fee (along with the work permit fee) and explain the initial non-compliance. Approval will restore eligibility for a new permit — but processing can take months, and work is prohibited until it is granted.