Reports from multiple Indian media and immigration-policy outlets suggest that in 2025, Canada has rejected nearly 80% of student visa applications from Indian students. This comes at a time when overall student visa rejection rates across all nationalities have hit a decade high of ~62%.
Key Facts & Figures
- Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data show a ~62% rejection rate for all student visa / permit applications in 2025, up from ~52% in 2024.
- Indian applicants are reported to have been especially hard hit, with rejection rates approaching 80%. However, IRCC has not publicly released a full country‐wise breakdown that confirms exactly 80%.
- The number of study permits granted to Indian nationals dropped by ~31% in Q1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 (from ~44,295 to ~30,640).
What’s Driving the High Rejection Rates
Several policy changes and stricter criteria appear to be behind the significant increase in denials:
| Policy Change | Effect on Applications |
|---|---|
| Financial Proof Requirement Doubled | Applicants must show significantly more funds to cover tuition + living costs. Business Standard |
| Student Direct Stream (SDS) Program Ended | Faster-track visa stream options removed for certain applicants, making processes slower and stricter. |
| Tougher Documentation & Study Plan Scrutiny | Applications are being more closely reviewed for clarity, authenticity, and intent. Flawed or incomplete paperwork is more likely to be rejected. |
| Reduced Caps on Study Permits | Canada set a cap of 437,000 study permits for 2025 (a 10% drop vs 2024). This means fewer total slots and more competition among applicants. |
What It Means for Students & Institutions
- Students face uncertainty and possibly financial loss (application fees, test costs, etc.). Planning ahead with strong documentation is more crucial than ever.
- Education consultants are advising that Indian applicants carefully follow updated rules, ensure financial documents are clear, tangible, and consistent.
- Canadian colleges and universities might see a dip in international enrolments, which could impact revenue from tuition fees.
- Alternative destinations are gaining attention—countries like Germany, Australia, UK may be seen as more favorable given clearer processes or less stringent requirements. The Times of India
Caveats & What Is Not Confirmed
- While “80% rejection for Indian applicants” is widely reported, no fully authoritative public data from IRCC confirms this exact figure. The number seems based on media reports & expert commentary.
- The 62% overall rejection rate is confirmed, but breaking out data by country (India vs others) is still based on reports rather than detailed published IRCC breakdowns.
- Changing policies may cause further fluctuations—this is not necessarily a fixed trend, but a response to policy shifts, political pressure, and immigration management.
