Canada no longer a favourite study destination, 74% of applications from India rejected

Canada’s decision to curb the number of international study permits has hit Indian students harder than any other group, with government data revealing a steep rise in rejection rates and a collapse in applications. Ottawa, which has cut back the issue of new permits for the second straight year in 2025, says the move is aimed at reducing temporary migration and tackling visa-related fraud.

The tightening has eroded Canada’s long-held image as a welcoming destination for Indian students seeking global education opportunities.

Figures shared with Reuters by Canada’s immigration department show that 74% of study permit requests from India were turned down in August 2025, compared with just 32% in August 2023. Across all international applicants, the rejection rate was about 40% in both months, while refusals for Chinese students stood at 24% in August 2025.

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The volume of Indian applicants has also plunged. Only 4,515 students from India sought permits in August 2025, down sharply from 20,900 in August 2023, when they made up just over one-quarter of all international applications. Despite being Canada’s largest source of foreign students for more than a decade, India now records the highest refusal rate among countries with over 1,000 successful applicants.

Fraud and dwindling enrolments

The crackdown follows a series of investigations exposing widespread document fraud. In 2023, Canadian authorities detected nearly 1,550 student visa applications linked to fake admission letters, most originating in India. A new verification system has since flagged over 14,000 questionable acceptance letters from all applicants. In response, the government has tightened verification procedures and raised financial thresholds for prospective students.

The Indian High Commission in Ottawa acknowledged awareness of the spike in rejections but noted that visa approvals remain solely under Canada’s jurisdiction. It added that Indian students have historically strengthened Canadian universities with their academic achievements and professional contributions.

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Diplomatic friction between New Delhi and Ottawa continues to shadow these developments. Relations soured in 2023 after former prime minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian agents were linked to the killing of a Canadian citizen in British Columbia—claims that India has firmly denied.

Universities are already reporting the fallout. The University of Waterloo, which hosts Canada’s largest engineering faculty, has seen Indian enrolments shrink by two-thirds in undergraduate and postgraduate courses over the past few years. The University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan have also observed noticeable declines.

Immigration experts note that background checks are now far more exhaustive. Merely submitting financial proof is no longer enough; students must explain the origin of their funds, according to Toronto-based consultant Michael Pietrocarlo, speaking to Reuters.

The once-clear pathway from study to permanent residency and employment has also become uncertain, prompting many Indians to rethink Canada as an option. Jaspreet Singh, founder of the International Sikh Students Association, recalled earlier campaigns encouraging international students to “Study, work, stay.” Now, he said, many rejected applicants feel the promise has faded—and some are even grateful they never went: “They are happy they didn’t come.”