Canada’s tightening of international student rules has dealt a major blow to Indian applicants, who once made up the largest group of foreign students pursuing higher education in the country.
In early 2025, Ottawa further reduced the number of study permits issued to international students as part of a wider effort to curb temporary migration and combat fraud in student visa applications. The result has been a dramatic fall in approvals for Indian nationals and a visible cooling of enthusiasm for Canada as a study destination.
According to government data accessed by Reuters, nearly 74 per cent of Indian study permit applications were rejected in August 2025. This marks more than double the 32 per cent rejection rate recorded a year earlier. In comparison, Canada turned down around 40 per cent of all international student applications and 24 per cent of those from China during the same period.
The decline has also led to a steep drop in applications from India. From more than 20,900 applications in August 2023, the number plunged to just 4,515 this August. The figures highlight how Canada’s once-promising image among Indian students is beginning to fade. Despite India remaining the top source of foreign students in Canada, it now has the highest study permit refusal rate of any country with over 1,000 approved applicants.
Strained India-Canada relations add to the tension
The tougher immigration stance comes as both countries continue to mend strained ties following the 2023 diplomatic crisis. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had accused India of involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an allegation New Delhi firmly denied. The ongoing mistrust has complicated bilateral engagement in several areas, including education and migration.
Canada says the crackdown targets fraud
Canadian immigration authorities maintain that the restrictions are part of an effort to curb fake admissions and misuse of student visas. In 2023, officials uncovered around 1,550 study permit applications linked to fraudulent letters of acceptance, most of which originated from India, according to an email statement from Canada’s immigration department to Reuters.
The department added that a total of 14,000 potentially fraudulent admission letters were detected last year. “Verification systems and financial scrutiny have been enhanced, and students are now required to provide more documentation to prove the legitimacy of their funding and admission offers,” a department spokesperson said, as quoted by Reuters.
India’s response
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa acknowledged the rising rejection rates, stating that while the issuance of study permits is Canada’s prerogative, the contribution of Indian students should not be overlooked.
“Some of the best quality students available in the world are from India, and Canadian institutions have in the past greatly benefited from the talent and academic excellence of these students,” the embassy said in a statement.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, during a visit to India in October, told Reuters that the government remains concerned about protecting the integrity of its immigration system. However, she added that Ottawa continues to value the presence of Indian students in Canadian universities.
Rising scrutiny and declining enrollment
Experts assisting international students have noted a sharp increase in the level of scrutiny during visa processing. “It’s not enough just to say, ‘Here are some bank statements,’” said Michael Pietrocarlo of Border Pass, a firm that helps students with visa applications. “Students are now being asked to show exactly where their money came from and how they plan to sustain themselves,” he told Reuters.
Universities across Canada are already feeling the impact. The University of Waterloo, which houses the country’s largest engineering faculty, reported a two-thirds decline in Indian enrollment in recent years. “We pride ourselves on being an international university,” said Ian VanderBurgh, associate vice president of strategic enrolment management. “The cap on student visas has definitely changed the composition of our classrooms.”
Similar trends have been reported by the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan.
‘Study, work, stay’ no longer the message
Jaspreet Singh, founder of the International Sikh Students Association, arrived in Canada in 2015 to study mechanical engineering. He recalled government campaigns that encouraged newcomers to “Study, work, stay” in the country. “That attitude has soured,” he said.
Singh added that he is not surprised by the high rejection rate of Indian study permit applicants. “Fraud is a concern,” he acknowledged, suggesting that both governments must work together to restore confidence in the system.
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