Doors to Foreign Lands Closing for Indians

May 24, 2026

In our country, once the younger generation becomes capable of working, their dreams, too, begin to aspire to touch the sky. They seek instant success—hoping to achieve everything overnight.

If they do not find an open and conducive environment for themselves within the country, their primary objective becomes to migrate to nations where currencies like the dollar, pound, ruble, or yen prevail, with the aim of becoming wealthy in a short span of time. Some young people head abroad after securing the requisite band scores from IELTS academies. Their first choice is typically Canada, followed by England, Australia, and the United States. So many Punjabis have migrated to Canada that a specific region there has come to be known as “Punjabi Canada.”

Some young individuals have also turned toward the Gulf nations in pursuit of a better future. However, the situation has now changed abruptly. Over the past few years—whether it be the United States, England, Canada, or Australia—all these nations have begun to discourage Indian immigration while prioritizing the interests of their own native citizens. The pathways that young Indians had established to reach these countries are now being made increasingly difficult to navigate.

Previously, a significant number of young people would find a way to go abroad, often utilizing the spouse visa route. In such cases—whether the couples were genuine or merely feigning marriage—one partner would travel abroad on a student visa and subsequently sponsor their spouse to join them. Since both partners were granted the right to work in those countries, this avenue was adopted by many young people; however, this policy, too, has now been altered. Let us first consider Britain. Historically, Britain was the primary destination for Indian immigrants.

Data from 2025, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), indicates that—due to stricter regulations—Indians constituted the largest group among those leaving Britain: comprising 51,000 individuals who had arrived for educational purposes, 21,000 for employment, and 3,000 for various other reasons. Britain currently hosts the highest number of Indian students and workers.

Among the immigrants departing due to these tightened regulations, Indians rank at the very top, although young people from China, Ukraine, Nigeria, and Pakistan have also been leaving Britain. In total, approximately 171,000 migrants have left Britain. In Britain, it is widely believed that workers arriving from India or other nations are willing to work for very low wages.

Consequently, British-born workers do not receive the full value for their labor. Recently, regulations for Indian immigrants have also been tightened in Canada. A new rule has now been introduced stipulating that even under a spouse visa—if an individual wishes to bring their wife or husband to Canada— the incoming partner must first meet the requisite proficiency bands for English language skills.

The rationale provided is that immigrants who lack language proficiency are often exploited by hiring companies or employers, who compel them to work for wages even lower than the established standard rates. Therefore, the directive is clear: master the language first, and then come. Similar changes have also been implemented in Australia and the United States. It is a well-known fact that many immigrants of Indian origin have been sent back to India—often in shackles and handcuffs—due to a lack of proper documentation.

Conversely, Indian technical experts are generally welcomed with open arms in these nations. Nevertheless, an analysis by the ONS indicates that the number of Indians arriving in these countries under the pretext of employment has declined by as much as 47 percent.

The current situation closely mirrors that of the COVID-19 era, when the pandemic caused a drastic reduction in the emigration of people from India to foreign shores. All in all, these nations are effectively closing their doors to Indians. Mr. Trump, for his part, makes no secret of his stance, openly declaring that he will not allow immigrants to exploit American civilization.