New Delhi, November 4 — Canada’s sweeping anti-fraud measures and strained bilateral ties with India have pushed student visa rejection rates for Indian applicants to a record 74% in August 2025, the highest among all major source countries, according to new government data.
Figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) show that only one in four Indian students secured a study permit this August, compared to two in three just two years ago. India’s rejection rate has more than doubled since 2023, while China’s stands at 24% and the overall global rate at 40%.
The number of applications from India has also plummeted — from 20,900 in August 2023 to just 4,515 in August 2025 — marking one of the steepest declines on record.
The downturn follows Canada’s intensified crackdown on fake admissions and temporary visa misuse. In 2023, Canadian authorities exposed over 1,500 fraudulent study permits, mostly from India. The following year, advanced verification tools flagged an additional 14,000 questionable submissions. Ottawa has since implemented tougher document checks and higher financial proof requirements for international students.
The stricter policies come in the wake of diplomatic friction between the two countries. Relations soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2023 remarks alleging Indian involvement in a killing in British Columbia — an accusation New Delhi firmly rejected.
Since then, Canada has sought new legal powers through Bill C-12, allowing mass cancellation of temporary visas linked to fraud. Internal memos have described India and Bangladesh as “country-specific challenges” for visa processing.
The effects are being felt across Canadian campuses. The University of Waterloo reports a two-thirds drop in Indian enrolments in the past four years, while the University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan have recorded similar declines. Universities say the changing visa environment has affected both classroom diversity and revenue.
Processing times for Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs) have nearly doubled — from 30 days to 54 — and total approvals have slipped from 63,000 in January 2024 to 48,000 by mid-2025.
Despite the sharp fall, both governments have signalled interest in normalising relations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s June 2025 visit to Canada and the appointment of new high commissioners were seen as early steps toward rebuilding trust.
The Indian Embassy in Ottawa has acknowledged the increased rejection rate but reiterated confidence in Indian students’ “strong academic and ethical record.”
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said her government continues to welcome Indian students but must safeguard the immigration system. “We value the contribution of Indian learners but must ensure every applicant meets our standards,” she noted.
Consultants say that new applicants face an uphill task. “There’s zero tolerance for documentation errors,” said a Toronto-based immigration adviser. “Applicants now need to demonstrate both financial and academic authenticity in far greater detail.”
For now, the dramatic fall in student mobility underscores how political tensions and visa reforms have reshaped one of the world’s largest education corridors.
