An estimated one million Indian nationals residing in Canada are projected to lose their legal status by mid-2026, primarily due to the expiry of their work permits and increasingly restrictive Canadian immigration policies. This significant claim originates from Mississauga-based immigration consultant Kanwar Seirah, who shared his analysis, based on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data, with the Hindustan Times. According to Seirah's findings, approximately 1,053,000 work permits had already expired by the end of 2025, with an additional 927,000 slated to expire in 2026. He conservatively estimates that by mid-2026, Canada could see two million individuals living without legal status, with Indians constituting roughly half of this population. The looming crisis is attributed to the non-renewable nature of Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs), which are typically valid for 8 months to 3 years, and the narrowing pathways for temporary residents to transition to permanent residency. The Canadian government has explicitly stated its intention to reduce the temporary resident population to below five percent of the total population by the end of 2027, marking a significant shift in its immigration strategy. This includes setting lower targets for new temporary worker arrivals and stabilizing permanent resident admissions at 380,000 annually from 2026 to 2028, a decrease from previous years. While Canada aims to prioritize permanent residency applications from those already within the country with valuable Canadian experience and in-demand skills, the sheer volume of expiring permits presents a formidable challenge for many, particularly Indian international students and temporary workers. Recent announcements from IRCC on January 15, 2026, indicated a freeze on the list of PGWP-eligible courses for 2026, offering some clarity for future students, but it does not address the immediate issue of expiring permits for current temporary residents. This situation has prompted activists to call for reforms, advocating for pathways that would allow temporary workers and students to remain legally in Canada, reflecting a growing concern about a potential surge in undocumented immigrants.