Canada’s immigration authorities have rejected nearly 74% of Indian student visa applications, signaling one of the sharpest declines in approval rates to date. According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), of the 4,515 study permit requests submitted by Indian students in August 2025, only 1,196 were approved — a steep fall compared to 2023, when over 20,000 were sanctioned. In contrast, the overall rejection rate for all countries stood at around 40%, with Chinese applicants facing only a 24% refusal rate, highlighting a disproportionate scrutiny on Indian students. The shift comes as a blow to thousands of aspirants whose long-cherished dream of studying and settling in Canada now hangs in uncertainty.

Officials have attributed the surge in denials to Canada’s new immigration policy overhaul and intensified measures against fraudulent student applications. The IRCC has been investigating widespread visa scams, particularly following the 2023 fake admission letter scandal involving Jalandhar-based agent Brijesh Mishra, who was arrested for allegedly duping students with counterfeit university offers. Since then, the Canadian government has introduced enhanced verification systems and stricter financial scrutiny, demanding comprehensive proof of fund sources. These measures, aimed at protecting the integrity of the immigration process, have simultaneously made it more challenging for genuine applicants to navigate the system, turning the visa process into what many describe as “an interrogation.”

The sharp drop in Indian student intake has also dealt a financial blow to Canadian universities, which heavily depend on international tuition fees. Institutions such as the University of Waterloo, University of Regina, and University of Saskatchewan have reported significant enrollment declines, warning of long-term talent and revenue losses. Diplomatic tensions between India and Canada — reignited after allegations involving the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar — have further strained educational and immigration ties. While Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand reiterated the country’s commitment to upholding “immigration integrity,” Indian students are now increasingly choosing alternative destinations like Australia and the United Kingdom, both of which recorded double-digit growth in Indian visa approvals this year.