Canada’s Rejection Rate for Indian Student Visas Soars to 74%, Up Sharply from 32% Last Year

Canada, Nov 4 : Nearly three out of every four Indian students applying for Canadian study permits were rejected in August 2025  a dramatic rise from just 32% a year earlier  according to data from Canada’s immigration department, cited by Reuters.

Government figures show that 74% of Indian applicants were denied study permits in August 2025, compared to 32% in August 2023. In contrast, the overall global rejection rate remained around 40% in both years, while rejections for Chinese applicants stood at 24% this August.

The steep decline comes alongside a major drop in applications from India  from nearly 20,900 in August 2023 to just over 4,500 this year. India, traditionally Canada’s largest source of international students, now also records the highest rejection rate among countries with over 1,000 approved applicants.

Visa clampdown amid strained diplomatic ties

The surge in rejections follows Ottawa’s tightening of its international student policies for a second consecutive year, as it seeks to manage temporary migration levels and curb fraudulent applications.

Tensions between India and Canada have also clouded the situation. Relations deteriorated after then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2023 alleged Indian government involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar   an accusation India dismissed as “absurd.”

Fraud concerns trigger stricter screening

Canadian immigration authorities have ramped up document verification after discovering widespread fraud in visa applications. In 2023, officials identified about 1,550 fraudulent applications, mostly linked to Indian students. By 2024, enhanced screening flagged over 14,000 potentially fake admission letters globally.

In a statement to Reuters, Canada’s immigration department said new measures were introduced to tighten verification and raise financial requirements to “protect the integrity of the system.”

The Indian High Commission in Ottawa acknowledged awareness of the rising rejection rates, but said visa decisions remain “Canada’s prerogative.” It added, “Some of the best quality students in the world are from India, and Canadian institutions have long benefited from their talent and academic excellence.”

During her visit to India in October, Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand reiterated that Ottawa aims to maintain opportunities for Indian students while ensuring “the integrity of its immigration system.”

Canadian universities feel the impact

Universities across Canada are reporting sharp declines in Indian enrolments. At the University of Waterloo, which has the country’s largest engineering school, enrolments from India have dropped by nearly two-thirds in the past four years, said Ian VanderBurgh, Associate Vice-President for Strategic Enrolment Management.

“We pride ourselves on being an international university,” VanderBurgh noted, adding that government visa caps have changed the student demographic significantly. Similar trends have been reported by the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan.

Visa advisors say that officers are now conducting far more rigorous background checks. Michael Pietrocarlo of Canadian visa consultancy Border Pass told Reuters: “It’s not enough just to show bank statements anymore. Applicants must now prove exactly where the money came from.”