As the pandemic began to take hold, new applications for Canadian study permits fell by nearly half in 2020 compared to 2019. According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) latest data, there was 847,852 applications in 2019, which dropped to just under 4,42,000 the following year. However, application flow rates are predicted to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2021, owing to a combined effect of delayed demand from last year and this year’s student group.
The IRCC reports over 7,30,000 new student permit applications through August 2021, a nearly 27% increase over the same period in 2019. Between January and May of this year, more than half of the total volume of applications filed year to date were submitted. The immigration ministry previously stated that all finalized application forms that are received by the 15th of May 2021 would be processed by the 6th of August 2021.
Since then, IRCC has stated that, with the exception of inadequate applications, however almost all files received by the deadline were processed on time. Work is under process and immigration officials are burning the midnight oil to process files received after May 15th as soon as possible. This increase in application amount corresponds to a critical deadline for IRCC handling.
Moreover, nearly 3,30,000 study permit applications were submitted from June to August 2021, and there have been reports from Canadian institutions and schools that some students will need to defer admission to January 2022 as IRCC works to complete the pending applications for this calendar year.
Approximately 22% of all applications for 2021 have come from Indian students, with other significant pre-pandemic growth markets such as Bangladesh, Colombia, Iran, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Vietnam also showing renewed strength this year. The increase in 2021 application volumes signifies broader enrollment numbers of developments for the five years preceding 2020.
IRCC provides approximate processing times for new applications. IRCC also updates its Covid-19 guidelines for candidates and students whose visa has been approved on a routine basis.
Canada is one of the most popular destinations for international students, particularly among Indians. Because of the high quality of education provided, the low cost of tuition, and the country’s welcoming attitude toward the international student community, the country has one of the largest and most powerful student populations in the world. Because of the excellent employment opportunities and prospects, professionals and postgraduate students prefer Canada to other countries for their higher education.
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