Is Punjab youths Canada Dream Fading? State witnesses lowest Passport demand this year

August 2, 2025

Chandigarh: In recent years Punjab has witnessed an increasing number of youths moving abroad to countries like Canada, Australia and other countries but this trend is now changing as these countries have now made strict rules for visas and immigration  after the U.S deported back hundreds of youths mostly from Punjab earlier this year. 

According to the data from the Ministry of External Affairs, around 1978 passport applications were received daily this year from January 01 to 30 June 2025 which as compared to last year is low. 

Last year according to the data 2,906 passport applications were received daily in Punjab. 

While the Punjab government is calling it a success, the local youths and residents said that the restrictions on visas and immigration affected many youths to move abroad and put their abroad dreams on hold.

Passport applications decreased

As per the details the situation seems to have changed a lot. From January to June 2025, about 3.60 lakh passports have been made in the state. If this pace continues throughout the year, then by the end of the year this number will reach about 7.50 lakh, which will be the lowest in the last four years.

Earlier, the least number of passports were made in 2021, when only 6.44 lakh passport applications were received. However, in 2021, the reason for this was the ban on international travel and the closure of passport offices due to lockdown. But if we leave 2021 aside, this is considered to be the biggest decline in the last 10 years.

Data show every third Punjabi is passport holder

According to the data, around 95.41 lakh passports have been issued in Punjab since 2014, while the state has about 65 lakh households and a population of about 3 crore. This means that every third person in Punjab is a passport holder, which shows how high the desire to go abroad has been here.

Canada jobs decreased

Now not only has the number of passports decreased, but the number of youth returning from Canada is also increasing. The youth who have returned say that there is a lot of tension there and due to constant stress many people are going into depression. Jobs are not available for many months, and by the time one gets a job, it becomes difficult to even manage the expenses.

The change in Canada’s visa and immigration rules is believed to be the biggest reason for the fall in passports. Especially after the tension in India-Canada relations, the youth is now hesitant to go there. 

According to the sources several youths after deportation in earlier years visited these countries illegally through the donkey route or through fake passports. As authorities now keep a keen eye on this the question remains does Punjab have enough jobs for their youths.

Another question arises whether Punjabi’s way of visiting abroad will change as these countries have made strict rules for immigration. 

Meanwhile after the United States deported hundreds of  youths back with handcuffs who traveled the country illegally, the state government in Punjab has launched a crackdown on the travel agents who sent youths illegally abroad through donkey route to these countries.

Also read: