Canada may have as many as 47,000 international students who are potentially violating the conditions of their student visas. These students could currently be in the country illegally, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

This information was shared during a House of Commons committee meeting by Aiesha Zafar, the head of migration integrity at IRCC. She spoke in response to questions from Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner about how Canada is tracking international students and whether all of them are following their visa rules.

Zafar said that 47,175 individuals who entered Canada on student visas might be “non-compliant.” This means that they are not attending classes as required by their visa conditions. However, she clarified that the number is not final. “We have not yet determined whether or not they are fully non-compliant. These are initial results that the institutions provide to us,” she said during the committee meeting.

The IRCC relies on reports from Canada’s post-secondary institutions, such as colleges and universities, to track international students. Schools are required to report if they have lost contact with any students. Zafar explained that these reports form the basis for determining whether a student might be breaking their visa conditions.

She also mentioned that it is difficult to give an exact number of students who are officially violating visa rules. “It would be challenging to give a precise number on how many international students are actually in violation of their visa terms,” Zafar added.

When it comes to removing students who are in the country illegally, Zafar clarified that this is the responsibility of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). “Any foreign national in Canada would be under the purview of the Canada Border Services Agency, so they have an inland investigation team,” she said.

Indian Students Among the Highest Non-Compliant

During the session, Garner asked Zafar about which countries have the highest number of students not following the rules. Zafar stated that “India is one of the top countries” in terms of students who may be non-compliant.

The IRCC monitors students through regular check-ins with “Designated Learning Institutions” (DLIs). These include all Canadian colleges, universities, and other institutions that enroll international students. The check-ins happen twice a year, and they help the IRCC identify “potentially non-genuine students” who may not be attending classes.

According to a 2024 IRCC report, when a school reports that a student is not attending classes, this information is added to the student’s file. It can affect future immigration applications, such as visa renewals or permanent residency applications. Students who are confirmed to be non-compliant may also be referred to the CBSA for enforcement action after a proper IRCC investigation.

However, the IRCC cannot act if a school does not submit compliance updates. This is considered a limitation of the system, as some students may not be reported simply because their institution failed to provide information.

Earlier this year, an IRCC report highlighted that nearly 50,000 international students were reported as “no-shows” at Canadian colleges and universities in March and April 2024. A significant portion of these students were from India. The report noted that almost 20,000 students from India were among the no-shows. This represented about 5.4 percent of all Indian students being tracked by the IRCC at that time.

Tracking and Enforcement

Tracking international students is part of Canada’s effort to maintain the integrity of its immigration system. The IRCC uses the information from DLIs to ensure that students are genuine and attending the programs they signed up for. Students found to be non-compliant risk losing their visa status and could be removed from the country by the CBSA.

Zafar emphasized that the IRCC is still investigating these cases and that the 47,000 figure represents initial findings based on reports from schools. She made it clear that not all of these students may be fully violating their visa rules, but the reports serve as an early warning system.

For students who may have stopped attending classes for reasons beyond their control, such as health issues or personal emergencies, the IRCC can take these circumstances into account. However, students who intentionally fail to meet visa conditions risk serious consequences.

The issue of non-compliant international students is a growing concern for Canadian authorities. With tens of thousands of students potentially violating visa conditions, the government relies on institutions to report accurately and on the CBSA to enforce the law. Indian students form a significant part of this group, according to IRCC reports.

Canada continues to monitor international students carefully to ensure they follow visa rules and attend the programs they are enrolled in. The country also reminds students that non-compliance can affect their current stay and future immigration opportunities.