Canada tightens student visa rules, Indian applications fall sharply

Canada’s new restrictions on international student permits have hit Indian applicants the hardest. What was once one of the most popular destinations for Indian students is now losing its appeal.

In early 2025, Canada reduced the number of international study permits for the second year in a row. The move is part of Ottawa’s plan to limit temporary migration and stop fake visa applications.

According to Canada’s Immigration Department, about 74% of study permit applications from India were rejected in August 2025, compared to 32% in August 2024. Overall, nearly 40% of all global applications were refused, while 24% of those from China were turned down.

The total number of Indian study permit applications dropped sharply from 20,900 in August 2023 to 4,515 in August 2025. For the full year 2024, Canada received around 280,000 study permit applications from India, but over half were rejected, showing a growing trend of tighter scrutiny.

India has been Canada’s largest source of international students for more than ten years. Most Indian students applying to Canadian universities come from Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana, according to education consultants.

However, India now also has the highest refusal rate among countries with more than 1,000 approved applicants.

Officials say the spike in visa rejections follows the discovery of fraudulent admission letters in 2023. That year, Canadian authorities found around 1,550 fake study permits, many linked to agents in India. In 2024, an upgraded verification system flagged over 14,000 suspicious documents across all applications.

To prevent more fraud, the government has tightened background checks and raised the financial requirements for student applicants. The Immigration Department says this ensures only genuine students with enough funds are approved.

The Indian Embassy in Ottawa said it was aware of the higher rejection rate but noted that visa decisions are Canada’s own choice. The embassy added that Indian students have long contributed to Canadian education and research.

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Anita Anand, said during her October visit to India that the government wants to “protect the integrity of the immigration system” but also “continue having Indian students in Canada.”

Education experts say the visa process has become much tougher. Applicants now need to show clear proof of their financial and academic background, not just bank statements.

Universities across Canada have reported a drop in enrolment from India. The University of Waterloo, which has the country’s largest engineering school, said its Indian student numbers have fallen by two-thirds in the past few years. The University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan have also seen similar declines.

The stricter rules come at a time when relations between India and Canada have been tense since 2023, after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in a killing in British Columbia - a claim New Delhi denied.

Canada is also considering new powers to cancel groups of temporary visas if they are found to be fraudulent. This proposal, part of Bill C-12, mainly mentions visa issues linked to India and Bangladesh, according to internal government papers obtained by CBC News.

Human rights and migrant groups have warned that such powers could lead to mass visa cancellations or unfair targeting of specific communities.

Visa processing has also slowed down - applications from India now take an average of 54 days instead of 30. In 2024, approvals dropped from 63,000 in January to 48,000 in June as more time was spent verifying documents.

Officials say the new measures have reduced fake visa entries and asylum claims, but they have not explained why India and Bangladesh were specifically mentioned in internal reports.

Despite the tensions, relations between the two countries are showing signs of improvement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Canada in June 2025 for the G7 summit, meeting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Both leaders agreed to rebuild diplomatic and educational ties.

In August, India and Canada also appointed new high commissioners to strengthen cooperation.