Canada’s immigration policies are creating significant hurdles for Indian students seeking to study abroad, with a sharp increase in study permit rejections. The latest government data points to a tough new reality for aspiring international scholars, as Canada tightens its immigration system. These measures are part of a broader strategy to control temporary migration levels and to address concerns over student visa fraud, leading to a reduction in the number of international student permits issued for the second year in a row starting in early 2025.
Analysis of recent figures shows that in August 2025, an overwhelming 74% of study permit applications from Indian nationals were refused. This marks a substantial jump from August 2023, when the rejection rate stood at around 32%. Compared to the general study permit refusal rate, which was approximately 40% during the same periods, the impact on Indian applicants is particularly severe. For comparison, Chinese applicants saw a 24% refusal rate in August 2025.
The number of Indian applicants has also plummeted. In August 2023, India was the top source country for international students with 20,900 applicants. By August 2025, this figure had fallen to 4,515. While India has traditionally been Canada’s primary source of international students, it also experienced the highest refusal rate among countries with over 1,000 approved applicants in August 2025, underscoring the intensified scrutiny.
This surge in rejections coincides with efforts to improve diplomatic relations between Canada and India, which have been strained over the past year due to allegations of Indian government involvement in a 2023 murder, a claim India has consistently refuted. While official statements focus on immigration integrity, the geopolitical climate might indirectly influence policy perceptions.
Concerns about fraudulent applications have been a major justification for Canada’s stricter visa processing. Authorities uncovered nearly 1,550 study permit applications tainted by fake acceptance letters in 2023, with most linked to India. Canada’s enhanced verification mechanisms identified over 14,000 questionable acceptance letters from all international applicants last year.
In addition to stricter vetting, the Canadian immigration department has increased the financial proof required from international students. This has led education consultants to advise applicants to meticulously document the origin of their funds. Reports from Canadian universities indicate a notable decline in Indian student enrollment, with some institutions seeing a significant reduction in both undergraduate and postgraduate students from India over the last few years, a trend partly explained by the new visa limitations.