In a growing international controversy, Canada’s higher education system is grappling with a disturbing trend that sees nearly 50,000 international students failing to show up for classes despite being granted study permits. Data from Canada’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveal that a significant number of students, particularly from Nigeria, China, and India, have not adhered to the conditions of their study permits.
The startling statistics were disclosed in the latest spring 2024 reports from Canadian universities and colleges, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of Canada’s immigration and student compliance monitoring systems. The non-compliance rate stands at 6.9% of the total international student population—around 50,000 individuals—marking them as “no-shows” who failed to report to the institutions that issued their study permits.
According to government reports, Nigeria ranks third among the top 10 countries with the highest number of non-compliant students. Of the 50,000 no-shows, Nigerian students account for 3,902, a figure that highlights the alarming trend of non-compliance among students coming to Canada for educational opportunities.
India and China lead the pack, with India contributing the largest number of non-compliant students—19,582—while China follows with 4,279. This spike in student non-compliance, especially from countries like Nigeria, China, and India, has sparked heated debates in Canada about the integrity and transparency of the student visa system.
Renée LeBlanc Proctor, a spokesperson for Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, commented on the troubling trend, emphasizing that the issue is part of a broader challenge facing the Canadian immigration system. “Canada is aware of increased exploitation of temporary resident visas, including study permits. This has escalated due to organized smuggling networks and global migration crises,” she said, underscoring the role of illegal border crossings and exploitation by criminal organizations.
The issue came to light when, in March and April 2024, Canadian institutions submitted biannual reports to IRCC. These reports revealed that tens of thousands of students failed to comply with the terms of their study permits. In addition, the status of 23,514 students—3.3% of all international students—remains unreported, further complicating the situation and casting a shadow over Canada’s educational institutions.
The International Student Compliance Regime (ISCR), introduced in 2014, was meant to prevent these types of violations by requiring designated learning institutions to report every six months on whether international students are enrolled and attending classes. However, despite this regulatory framework, the compliance system appears to be struggling under the weight of non-compliance.
Canada’s reputation as a top destination for international students, particularly from regions such as Africa and Asia, now faces a significant threat. As more students look for opportunities abroad, including Nigerians, the country’s student visa system is under the microscope for not effectively tracking and enforcing attendance requirements.
Experts have pointed to several factors contributing to the rise in non-compliance. Among these is the rise in students who use Canadian study permits as a backdoor entry into the United States, often in violation of immigration laws. Reports suggest that some students from countries like India use the study permit as a means to cross the border into the U.S. illegally. This underscores the need for heightened scrutiny of international student applications and better monitoring of students who may be using Canada as a gateway to other opportunities in North America.
Although Statistics Canada reports over one million valid study permit holders in the country, the number of students compliant with their study permit conditions is much lower, with IRCC tracking only 644,349 students who are actively enrolled in classes.
While the number of no-shows is alarming, the Canadian government is taking steps to address the situation. IRCC has ramped up its monitoring efforts and increased compliance checks in an attempt to identify non-compliant students and ensure that institutions adhere to their reporting requirements. These measures are part of a broader effort to maintain the integrity of Canada’s immigration system, particularly in the wake of growing concerns over illegal migration routes and exploitation.
As Canada continues to struggle with these challenges, the country is looking to balance its role as a global leader in education with its responsibilities to maintain secure borders and a functional immigration system. The report has sparked a national conversation about the future of international student policies, with many calling for tighter regulations, improved tracking systems, and greater transparency in the handling of student permits.
Meanwhile, students from Nigeria, China, and India have come under scrutiny, with many calling for more rigorous vetting processes to ensure that only students who genuinely intend to study are granted permits. Some have also advocated for reforms that would allow for stricter penalties for non-compliant students and institutions that fail to follow the rules.
The rising number of non-compliant international students is not only a problem for Canada’s immigration system but also poses a threat to the integrity of its higher education system. With global migration patterns shifting and more students seeking opportunities abroad, Canada’s reputation as a trusted destination for academic excellence is at risk if these issues are not addressed in a timely and effective manner.
It remains to be seen how Canada will respond to these challenges in the coming months.
