Punjab youth told to look beyond Canada as study abroad shifts

A guest column in Hindustan Times warns that Punjab's students must abandon the decades-old 'Canada dream' as visa and immigration policies tighten. Canadian study permits from India fell 80% by August 2025, and Canada's rejection rate for Indian applicants hit 74%. Overall Indian student departures dropped 31% in two years to 6.26 lakh in 2025, with Punjab bearing the brunt due to its high per-capita student migration.

The column, citing Bureau of Immigration data, says the old formula of a post-graduate work permit leading to permanent residency has broken. It attributes the shift to the India-Canada diplomatic rift after Hardeep Singh Nijjar's murder, plus new Canadian caps on study permits and tougher residency rules. It notes that the UK and Australia have also tightened, closing off other traditional destinations.

The writer urges families to consider alternatives like Germany's opportunity card, Ireland's post-study work visa, the UAE's tax-free green visa, and New Zealand's green list for direct residence. It argues these options are often cheaper and faster than Canada, and calls for a mindset shift away from relying on relatives abroad toward choosing destinations based on points systems and actual employer demand.