Canada’s tightening of its worldwide scholar visa guidelines has hit Indian candidates significantly onerous, with authorities information revealing a pointy rise in examine allow refusals. As soon as a prime vacation spot for Indian college students, Canada is shedding a few of its enchantment.
As a part of broader efforts to curb momentary migration and sort out scholar visa fraud, Canada diminished the variety of worldwide scholar permits for the second consecutive yr in early 2025.
Current information reveals that roughly 74% of Indian functions for examine permits in August 2025 have been rejected, up from about 32% in August 2023. By comparability, the general rejection price for examine permits in these months was round 40%, whereas 24% of Chinese language functions have been refused in August 2025.
The variety of Indian candidates has additionally fallen sharply, from 20,900 in August 2023, when Indians represented simply over 1 / 4 of all candidates, to 4,515 in August 2025. India has traditionally been Canada’s prime supply of worldwide college students, however in August 2025, it additionally recorded the very best refusal price amongst nations with over 1,000 authorised candidates.
The spike in refusals comes amid efforts to enhance Canada-India relations after over a yr of diplomatic stress, following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations of Indian authorities involvement within the 2023 homicide of a Canadian citizen in Surrey, British Columbia, a declare India has repeatedly denied.
Crackdown On Fraud
Canadian authorities have cited fraud considerations as a key purpose for stricter scrutiny. In 2023, practically 1,550 examine allow functions linked to fraudulent letters of acceptance have been uncovered, most originating from India. Final yr, Canada’s strengthened verification system detected over 14,000 doubtlessly fraudulent letters of acceptance throughout all candidates.
The immigration division has additionally elevated monetary necessities for worldwide college students and carried out enhanced verification procedures.
The Indian embassy in Ottawa acknowledged the excessive rejection price, noting that the issuance of examine permits is Canada’s prerogative. The embassy added, “Nevertheless, we wish to emphasise that a few of the highest quality college students accessible on the planet are from India, and Canadian establishments have up to now enormously benefited from the expertise and educational excellence of those college students.”
Canada’s International Affairs Minister Anita Anand advised Reuters throughout an October go to to India that whereas the Canadian authorities is worried about sustaining the integrity of its immigration system, it stays eager to proceed internet hosting Indian college students.
Decline In Indian Enrolment
Schooling consultants report heightened scrutiny for Indian candidates. Michael Pietrocarlo of Border Go, which assists visa candidates, defined, “It’s not sufficient simply to supply financial institution statements. College students usually have to point out precisely the place the cash got here from to show their eligibility.”
A number of Canadian universities have seen a marked drop in Indian enrolment. The College of Waterloo, dwelling to Canada’s largest engineering college, has skilled a two-thirds decline in Indian undergraduates and postgraduates over the previous three to 4 years. Affiliate Vice President Ian VanderBurgh attributed the autumn largely to government-imposed caps on overseas scholar visas, which have reshaped the coed physique, “We pleasure ourselves on being a world college,” he stated.
The College of Regina and the College of Saskatchewan have additionally reported a decline in Indian scholar numbers.
Jaspreet Singh, founding father of the Worldwide Sikh College students Affiliation, recalled that when he arrived in Canada from India in 2015, authorities campaigns inspired newcomers to “Research, work, keep.” He stated the perspective has since modified. Singh is just not stunned by the rising rejection price, acknowledging considerations about fraud, however he famous that some rejected candidates seem unconcerned. “They’re blissful they didn’t come,” he stated, as everlasting residency and employment prospects have grow to be more difficult.