Indian citizens have been the leading source of new permanent residents to Canada for the better part of a decade, with their trajectory reflecting the interplay between global disruptions, domestic policy shifts, and Canada’s labour market needs. According to Maple News, the period from 2015 to 2023 was marked by remarkable growth, an expected pandemic-era dip, and an equally sharp rebound that underscores the strong structural ties between India and Canada’s immigration system.
From 2015 to 2019, the number of Indian nationals becoming Canadian permanent residents more than doubled. This rise was largely driven by economic immigration programs like Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs. Indian applicants consistently excelled in these points-based systems, benefiting from high levels of education, English proficiency, and work experience in high-demand industries such as technology, healthcare, and skilled trades.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic decline in immigration, with Indian admissions dropping to 42,875 as travel restrictions and processing delays took effect worldwide. However, Canada quickly adapted. In 2021, the government prioritized converting temporary residents—many of them Indian international graduates and skilled workers—into permanent residents, resulting in a dramatic rebound to 127,945 admissions.
The upward trend continued in 2022 with 118,250 new Indian permanent residents, and peaked in 2023 at 139,790—marking a historic high. This surge was facilitated by the clearing of processing backlogs and consistent admissions targets. Indians represented a substantial proportion of Canada’s overall immigration intake during this period.
Yet, early signs of moderation emerged in 2024, with admissions dipping to 127,375. By November 2025, only 93,970 Indian nationals had obtained permanent residence, indicating that the year’s final total will likely fall below both 2023 and 2024 figures. This softening trend aligns with broader shifts in immigration policy, including efforts to recalibrate temporary resident volumes, regional diversification of source countries, and geopolitical considerations.
Despite the recent moderation, Maple News emphasizes that Indian immigration levels remain historically high. The Canadian government’s Immigration Levels Plan continues to set ambitious overall targets, though current iterations highlight the importance of sustainability, housing availability, and labour market balance.
Indian nationals remain well-positioned in Canada’s immigration system. Their success in merit-based pathways, strong ties through education and employment, and alignment with provincial recruitment strategies reinforce their status as a cornerstone of Canadian immigration.
The future may not mirror the explosive growth of previous years, but the long-term structural relationship between India and Canada’s immigration system remains robust. Indian citizens are expected to remain a key demographic in Canada’s permanent resident intake for years to come, albeit with more gradual annual increases.