🇨🇦 Canada Rejects 3 in 4 Indian Student Visa Applicants — Here’s Why
📉 Sharp Decline in Indian Student Applications
The number of Indian students applying for Canadian study permits has dropped drastically — from 20,900 in August 2023 to just 4,515 in August 2025. What was once a dream destination for Indian learners is now losing its charm. Government data shows that nearly 75% of Indian visa applications were rejected this August, making India the most affected country under Canada’s new international student restrictions.
🚫 Indian Applicants Hit the Hardest
In August 2023, Canada had denied 32% of Indian student permits. Fast forward to 2025, and that figure has more than doubled to 74%. While overall rejection rates hovered around 40%, and Chinese applicants saw 24% rejections, Indian students faced the steepest decline.
India has long been Canada’s top source of international students, but the sharp rejection surge shows changing tides. The Indian Embassy in Ottawa acknowledged the rising rejections but reminded that Canada alone decides permit approvals.
“Some of the best quality students in the world are from India,” the embassy stated, noting that Canadian institutions have benefited immensely from Indian talent.
🌍 Diplomatic Strain and Visa Crackdown
This wave of rejections comes amid strained India–Canada relations, as both nations attempt to rebuild ties following more than a year of diplomatic tensions during the Justin Trudeau administration.
In early 2025, Ottawa also reduced the number of international student permits for the second consecutive year, citing efforts to curb temporary migration and prevent visa fraud.
⚠️ The Root Cause: Fraudulent Letters and Tightened Scrutiny
Canadian authorities revealed that in 2023, over 1,550 study permit applications contained fake letters of acceptance, many linked to India. A newly upgraded verification system has since flagged over 14,000 potentially fraudulent letters.
In response, the Immigration Department has tightened verification and raised financial requirements for applicants to ensure genuine admissions.
💬 What Canada Says Now
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, during a recent visit to India, said that while Ottawa aims to protect the integrity of its immigration system, it still welcomes genuine Indian students who meet the new standards.
🎓 The Bottom Line
Canada’s stricter visa screening, rising fraud cases, and cooling diplomatic ties have created a perfect storm for Indian applicants. Once the top global destination for higher education, Canada’s appeal among Indian students is now fading fast — replaced by caution, confusion, and disappointment.
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