近年來，加拿大的移民結構發生極為驚人的變化，而印度移民的爆炸式增長更是引發社會各界的關注與討論。根據2023年的官方數據，加拿大當年新批出的永久居民（PR）人數高達471,550人，比2015年大幅增加73%。在這龐大的移民群體中，印度人以139,715人位居全球第一，佔比接近三成，遙遙領先其他國家。中國移民則以37,000人排名第二，但數量僅為印度的四分之一左右；巴基斯坦以11,850人排在第六名。若將印度與巴基斯坦合計，兩國移民便占據加拿大新移民總數的32%。

更令人驚訝的是，短短九年前，印度移民的年人數還只有3.9萬，如今卻猛增至14萬，翻三倍半。相比之下，中國移民在過去十年間幾乎沒有變化，長期穩定在每年3萬人左右；而來自菲律賓的移民數量甚至腰斬，從五萬下降到僅剩2.69萬人。換句話說，加拿大近九年來每年新增的二十萬移民裡，有一半的增量來自印度。

這種增長與印度的留學生和臨時居民息息相關。2023年，加拿大持有學習簽證的國際學生總數達到104萬人，其中印度學生高達42萬，佔比40%，遠遠超過中國的10.2萬與其他國家。甚至，印度留學生的人數比排名其後的九個國家加起來還多。九年前，印度留學生僅有3.1萬人，如今則飆升至27.8萬，增幅達九倍。

在臨時簽證（探親、旅遊等）方面，2023年加拿大共簽發432萬張，其中來自印度的就有128萬張。九年前，這個數字僅為12.8萬，如今翻十倍。這意味著，每年新增進入加拿大的印度人數量少則一百萬、多則兩百萬，相當於全國人口的5%。這也難怪有民眾打趣說，在多倫多街頭行走時，會有彷彿置身印度的錯覺。

印度移民能在加拿大「橫掃千軍」的原因，主要來自幾個層面。首先是語言優勢。作為前英國殖民地，印度人在英語能力上具有天然優勢，即便口音較重，整體英語水平仍遠高於多數亞洲國家，而加拿大的移民評分系統中，語言能力是重要加分項。其次是學歷成本與加分優勢。印度的碩士學位取得成本極低，有些大學一年學費僅需台幣兩千元左右，輕鬆就能獲取碩士文憑，而在加拿大的移民評分中，碩士比本科多15分，這直接形成明顯競爭優勢。相比之下，台灣的碩士學位需要通過考試、花兩至三年時間學習且費用高昂，難度遠大。

第三，印度移民在加拿大的抱團文化與產業鏈已形成規模效應。他們在建築、快餐、運輸、農業等領域幾乎形成壟斷，且許多印度企業只雇用同族員工，讓新來的印度移民更容易找到工作與獲得雇主擔保，加速取得移民資格。第四，因為根深蒂固種姓制度，無法翻身的低種姓印度人移民意願極強。對許多印度人而言，移民加拿大意味著翻轉命運的唯一機會，他們願意不惜一切代價離開國土，甚至有人花費八十萬台幣偷渡到加拿大，並直接申請難民身份。

然而，這股移民潮也帶來明顯的社會反應。在多倫多、溫哥華、密西沙加等印度移民高度集中的城市，部分居民開始表達不滿，抱怨當地社區文化急遽變化：從機場到商店、餐館幾乎隨處可見印度人，有人甚至覺得日常溝通變得困難；部分企業只雇用印度人，導致其他族裔的求職機會縮減；飲食、交通與社區習慣也逐漸受到印度文化影響，引發文化衝突與隔閡感。而他們在沙灘上隨地大小便，也造成當地民眾的困擾。

雖然加拿大長期自詡為移民國家，但當某一族裔的人口增長速度遠遠超過其他群體時，社會融合的難度也會急遽上升。此次印度移民大幅增加，不僅凸顯加拿大移民制度在評分與門檻上的特定傾向，也讓外界開始重新思考，在維持人口增長與經濟活力的同時，如何確保多元族裔之間的平衡與共融，成為未來不可忽視的課題。

In recent years, Canada’s immigration landscape has undergone an astonishing transformation, with the explosive growth of Indian immigration drawing significant attention and debate across society.

According to official 2023 data, Canada admitted 471,550 new permanent residents (PR) that year — a 73% increase compared to 2015. Within this large group, Indians ranked first worldwide with 139,715 people, making up nearly 30% of the total — far ahead of any other country. Chinese immigrants ranked second with 37,000, roughly one quarter of the Indian figure, while Pakistan ranked sixth with 11,850. Combined, India and Pakistan accounted for 32% of Canada’s new immigrants.

Even more striking is that just nine years ago, annual Indian immigration to Canada stood at only 39,000. Today, it has surged to 140,000 — a three-and-a-half-fold increase. In contrast, Chinese immigration has barely changed over the past decade, holding steady at about 30,000 per year. Immigration from the Philippines has even halved, falling from 50,000 to just 26,900. In other words, of the 200,000 additional immigrants Canada has admitted annually in the past nine years, half of the increase came from India.

This growth is closely linked to the surge in Indian international students and temporary residents. In 2023, Canada had 1.04 million international students with valid study permits — 420,000 of them from India, accounting for 40% of the total. This figure dwarfs China’s 102,000 students and those from all other countries, with the number of Indian students exceeding the combined total of the next nine countries on the list. Nine years ago, there were just 31,000 Indian students in Canada; now the number has skyrocketed to 278,000, a ninefold increase.

As for temporary visas (for family visits, tourism, etc.), Canada issued 4.32 million in 2023, of which 1.28 million went to Indian nationals. Nine years earlier, that number was just 128,000 — a tenfold increase. This means that every year, between one and two million Indians enter Canada, representing as much as 5% of the country’s total population. It’s no wonder some locals jokingly say that walking the streets of Toronto can feel like being in India.

Several factors explain why Indian immigrants have been able to “sweep through” Canada so successfully. First is the language advantage: as a former British colony, India produces English speakers with a significant edge over most other Asian countries, even if accents are strong. Since language proficiency is a major scoring factor in Canada’s immigration system, this gives Indians a clear advantage.

Second is the low cost and points advantage of advanced degrees. In India, a master’s degree can be obtained for a fraction of the cost in the West — some universities charge the equivalent of just a few hundred US dollars per year — making it easy to acquire credentials that score 15 more immigration points than a bachelor’s degree. In contrast, in Taiwan and many other countries, a master’s requires competitive entrance exams, two to three years of study, and high tuition, making it much harder to obtain.

Third is the community network and industry dominance Indian immigrants have established in Canada. In sectors such as construction, fast food, transportation, and agriculture, Indian workers and business owners hold strong positions, often hiring exclusively within their own ethnic group. This makes it easier for new arrivals to find jobs, secure employer sponsorship, and transition to permanent residency.

Fourth, India’s deeply entrenched caste system has left many low-caste individuals with little chance of upward mobility at home, giving them a strong incentive to emigrate. For many, moving to Canada is seen as their only chance to change their destiny, prompting some to go to extreme lengths — even paying the equivalent of NT$800,000 (around USD 25,000) to be smuggled into Canada and apply for refugee status.

However, this wave of immigration has triggered noticeable social reactions. In cities with high concentrations of Indian immigrants — such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Mississauga — some residents have expressed dissatisfaction, complaining of rapid changes in local community culture. From airports to shops and restaurants, Indians are highly visible; some say everyday communication has become more difficult, and certain companies hire only Indians, reducing job opportunities for other ethnic groups. Local food, transportation, and community habits are also shifting under Indian cultural influence, causing cultural clashes and feelings of alienation. Even sanitation issues have been reported, such as instances of public urination and defecation on beaches.

Although Canada has long prided itself on being a nation of immigrants, when one ethnic group’s population grows far faster than all others, integration challenges inevitably intensify. The rapid rise in Indian immigration not only highlights specific biases in Canada’s points-based immigration system but also forces the country to rethink how to balance population growth and economic vitality with maintaining harmony and cohesion among diverse ethnic communities — an issue that can no longer be ignored.