Canada has removed a record 4,526 Indian nationals from its territory in the first nine months of 2026, making Indians the largest group among foreign nationals facing enforced removal from the country. The figures, released by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), highlight a sharp rise in the number of Indians being deported or otherwise directed to leave Canada amid increased scrutiny of immigration compliance.
According to CBSA data, the 4,526 Indian nationals were removed from Canada up to September 30, accounting for more than 27% of the total 16,426 enforced removals recorded during the period. This is the highest number of Indians removed in a calendar year, surpassing previous records, even though three months of the year were still remaining when the data was compiled.
The latest figures also mark a significant shift in the nationality-wise composition of people being removed from Canada. Indians have emerged as the largest group for the first time since 2020. In that year, 1,424 Indian nationals were among the 12,858 people removed from the country. However, in the subsequent years, Mexican nationals consistently accounted for the highest number of removals.
The previous record for Indian nationals was registered in 2025, when 3,779 people were found inadmissible and removed from Canada. During the same year, Mexican nationals topped the list, with 4,837 removals out of a total of 23,160 enforced departures.
The latest CBSA figures also indicate that Indians constitute the largest nationality group in Canada’s pending removal cases. Of the total 52,457 individuals in the agency’s removals-in-progress inventory, 11,393 are Indian nationals. This suggests that a substantial number of cases involving Indian citizens are still awaiting completion of the removal process.
Canadian authorities follow three categories of removal orders, depending on the circumstances of an individual’s immigration case. These include deportation orders, exclusion orders and departure orders, each carrying different conditions and restrictions on returning to the country.
A deportation order results in a permanent ban on re-entering Canada. However, the individual may seek permission to return by obtaining written authorisation from the Canadian authorities. An exclusion order generally prevents a person from returning for one year, unless specific written permission is granted.
The restrictions are more stringent in cases involving misrepresentation. According to the CBSA, individuals who receive an exclusion order on grounds of having provided false or misleading information are barred from returning to Canada for five years.
The third category comprises departure orders, which require individuals to leave Canadian territory within 30 days of the order becoming enforceable. Failure to comply with the stipulated deadline can result in the departure order being converted into a deportation order, carrying more severe consequences for future entry into the country.
The CBSA has defended its enforcement measures, stating that removing individuals who do not have legal permission to enter or remain in Canada is necessary to safeguard the country’s immigration framework. The agency said such action was also important to ensure fairness towards those who follow the prescribed legal procedures to enter and reside in the country.
The rising number of Indian nationals being removed comes at a time when immigration compliance and enforcement have become increasingly significant issues in Canada. The latest statistics underline the growing number of cases involving Indian citizens within the country’s removal system, although the agency’s figures do not specify the individual reasons behind each removal.
With 4,526 Indians already removed by September-end and another 11,393 featuring in the pending removal inventory, the figures point to the scale of immigration enforcement involving Indian nationals in Canada in 2026.
