Highlights:
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Canada rejected 74 percent of Indian student visa applications in 2025, up from 32 percent last year.
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IRCC approved only 1,196 of 4,515 applications from Indian students in August 2025.
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India previously accounted for over one-quarter of Canada’s international student applicants in 2023.
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Global student visa rejection rate remains around 40 percent, while Chinese applicants faced a 24 percent refusal rate.
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Canada capped international study permits at 437,000 for 2025, reducing approvals for Indian students by 31 percent.
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Nearly 90,000 fewer study permits were issued to Indian applicants in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024.
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Policy changes follow fraud cases involving about 1,550 fake Indian study permit applications linked to forged admission letters.
Canada has rejected 74 percent of Indian student visa applications in 2025, signaling a decisive shift in the country’s international education and immigration strategy. The development marks a significant rise from August 2024, when the rejection rate for Indian applicants stood at 32 percent. The government has introduced stricter verification measures and enforcement protocols following fraud incidents linked to student permit applications from India.
Data published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows that only 1,196 out of 4,515 applications submitted by Indian students were approved in August 2025. This change comes even though Indian students represented more than one-quarter of all international student applicants to Canada in 2023. In comparison, the global rejection rate for student visas remains near 40 percent, while applicants from China saw a 24 percent rejection rate. The contrast suggests additional screening pressure for Indian students seeking entry into Canada for higher education.
Canada Tightens Study Permit Caps and Application Screening
A key factor influencing visa outcomes is the federal government’s updated cap on international study permits. For 2025, Canada set a ceiling of 437,000 permits nationwide. This policy resulted in a 31 percent reduction in student permits allocated to Indian nationals. In the first half of 2025 alone, nearly 90,000 fewer Indian students received permits compared to the same period in 2024. Canada officials have emphasized oversight, authenticity checks, and financial verification in this revised allocation system.
This approach is tied to Canada’s stated objective of protecting program integrity. Authorities have enhanced documentation verification processes to validate financial resources, admissions letters, and supporting academic credentials. These measures follow the discovery of fraudulent student permit applications linked to India.
Canada’s Response to Student Visa Fraud Incidents
The shift began after Canadian authorities exposed roughly 1,550 falsified study permit applications in 2023. Investigators identified fake admission documents allegedly supplied by Jalandhar-based agent Brijesh Mishra. Students affected by the fraudulent documentation faced uncertainty after already arriving in Canada to pursue studies. Since that time, Canada has strengthened its fraud-detection systems and enforcement checks.
IRCC has implemented enhanced verification tools that require additional proof of funds, institutional acceptance, and identity authenticity. These changes have contributed to longer processing times and a higher overall refusal rate for applicants from India. Canada officials argue that fraud prevention measures are necessary to preserve program credibility and ensure legitimate students are prioritized.
Canada’s Universities See Enrollment Decline
Canadian universities are experiencing a reduction in international student intake from India. Institutions including the University of Waterloo and the University of Saskatchewan have reported fewer Indian enrollments for the 2025 academic cycle. International students contribute an estimated $22 billion annually to Canada’s economy, and Indian students represent a major portion of this revenue. As a result, lower application approvals may influence operational budgets and strategic planning for universities across Canada.
Campus-level financial planning has been impacted, and institutions are reassessing recruitment strategies as Canada recalibrates its student visa program. Colleges that depended heavily on Indian enrollments are now facing lower intake numbers for fall and winter academic periods.
Canada-India Relations and Student Mobility
Diplomatic conditions have also shaped student mobility trends. Relations between India and Canada have been strained following the Hardeep Singh Nijjar case, which created political tensions and public policy pressure in both countries. While Canada maintains that it values international students from India, government officials have stated that securing “immigration integrity” remains the core priority.
Students Redirect From Canada to Other Countries
With Canada tightening its student visa pathways, applicants from India are increasingly exploring study options in other destinations. Countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom have seen up to a 20 percent increase in visa approval rates for Indian students in 2025. As a result, students previously focused on Canada are diversifying their plans to avoid uncertainty and delays.
The evolving landscape suggests that Canada will continue enforcing stricter eligibility checks and fraud controls, and Indian applicants may face more detailed financial and academic scrutiny throughout the year. While Canada remains a major study destination, the latest visa rejection trends mark a notable shift in international student strategy and immigration enforcement priorities.
