Canada’s immigration landscape is becoming increasingly restrictive for Indian students, as evidenced by a dramatic rise in study permit rejections. The Canadian government’s decision to tighten international student visa rules has significantly impacted applicants from India, making it considerably harder to gain admission. These policy shifts are part of a larger initiative to reduce overall temporary migration and to combat instances of student visa fraud, leading to a cap on international student permits being enforced for the second consecutive year from early 2025.
Recent data paints a concerning picture: approximately 74% of study permit applications filed by Indian nationals in August 2025 were denied. This figure represents a substantial escalation from August 2023, when the rejection rate for Indian applicants stood at about 32%. For perspective, the overall study permit refusal rate across all nationalities was around 40% during the same months, while Chinese applicants saw a 24% rejection rate in August 2025.
The influx of Indian applicants has also dwindled significantly. In August 2023, India was the leading source of international students with 20,900 applicants. By August 2025, this number had fallen sharply to 4,515. While India has historically been Canada’s top provider of international students, it also experienced the highest refusal rate in August 2025 among countries with over 1,000 approved applicants, highlighting the intensified vetting process.
These elevated refusal rates emerge in the context of ongoing diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, sparked by accusations of Indian government involvement in a 2023 murder. India has consistently denied these allegations, but the strained relations may be a factor influencing the immigration climate.
Canadian immigration officials have cited concerns about fraud as a key reason for the stricter approach. In 2023, close to 1,550 study permit applications were flagged for using fraudulent letters of acceptance, with the majority originating from India. Canada’s improved verification systems identified over 14,000 potentially fraudulent acceptance letters from all international applicants last year.
Beyond enhanced verification, the immigration department has increased the financial requirements for international students and strengthened its screening procedures. This means applicants must now provide more detailed evidence of financial support, including the source of funds, according to education consultants. Several Canadian universities have noted a marked decrease in enrollment from India, with some institutions reporting substantial declines in Indian students over the past few years, partly due to the government’s caps on international student visas.