Toronto: Canada’s tougher immigration controls are hitting Indian students hardest, with approval rates plunging and applications sharply declining.
New government data shows nearly 74 percent of student visa applications from India were rejected in August 2025, more than double the refusal rate a year earlier. In August 2023, rejections stood at about 32 percent. Overall, student visa refusals across countries remained far lower at around 40 percent.
India has long been the top source of foreign students for Canada. But applications from India have dropped steeply, from 20,900 in August 2023 to just 4,515 in August 2025, reflecting waning interest and increasing barriers. China, the second-largest source, saw a 24 percent refusal rate during the same period.
The shift comes as Canada continues curbing temporary migration for a second straight year and steps up its fight against fraud in the student system. Authorities have strengthened document checks and raised financial proof requirements after uncovering a wave of fake admission letters in 2023, many traced to India. Last year alone, more than 14,000 suspicious acceptance letters were flagged across all countries.
The visa tightening unfolds against a backdrop of strained ties between New Delhi and Ottawa, following allegations by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau linking India to the killing of a Canadian citizen in 2023. Both nations are now signaling efforts to stabilise relations, but student mobility remains a sensitive fault line.
India’s High Commission in Ottawa said it had taken note of rising refusals but stressed that Canadian universities have long benefited from the academic talent Indian students bring.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anand has also acknowledged the importance of Indian students, while emphasising the need to protect the integrity of the immigration system. Canadian institutions are already feeling the impact. The University of Waterloo, home to the country’s largest engineering faculty, has seen a two-thirds fall in enrolment from India over the past few years. Universities in Regina and Saskatchewan report similar declines.
Admissions consultants say students now face stricter scrutiny, particularly around financial documentation and proof of genuine intent. The tougher stance is also changing attitudes back in India. Jaspreet Singh, founder of the International Sikh Students Association, says many young Indians no longer see Canada as the guaranteed path to opportunity it once was. A decade ago, he recalls government posters encouraging newcomers to study, work, and settle. That tone has faded. With permanent residency pathways narrowing and job prospects tightening, Canada is no longer the easy door it used to be.
