Canada Tightens Student Visa Rules: 74 Per Cent Of Indian Applications Rejected Amid Fraud Crackdown

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) rejected 74 per cent of Indian student visa applications in August 2025, more than double the 32 per cent refusal rate from the same month last year, the Indian Express reported.

Of the 4,515 applications filed, only 1,196 were approved, compared to 20,900 approvals in August 2023, when Indians accounted for over a quarter of all international students.

While the overall global rejection rate stood at 40 per cent, Chinese applicants faced only a 24 per cent refusal rate, reflecting what experts call “intense scrutiny” of Indian candidates. For many, Canada’s long-favoured “study, work, stay” dream is slipping away.

The surge in rejections aligns with Canada’s sweeping immigration policy overhaul aimed at curbing fraud and reducing international student numbers.

In 2025, the student visa cap was cut to 437,000, 10 per cent lower than 2024 and 35 per cent below previous peaks.

Indian allocations alone fell by 31 per cent, resulting in nearly 90,000 fewer permits in the first half of the year.

A major trigger was the 2023 fake visa scandal involving Jalandhar agent Brijesh Mishra, accused of selling fraudulent Canadian college admission letters.

“Fraud is a concern,” said Jaspreet Singh, Founder of the International Sikh Students Association.

Visa consultant Michael Pietrocarlo added that applicants now “may have to go the extra mile” to prove financial legitimacy.

Colleges such as the University of Waterloo and the University of Regina report steep declines in Indian enrollments, affecting revenues.

The Indian Embassy in Ottawa noted, “Some of the best quality students available in the world are from India.”

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand reaffirmed that while Canada values Indian students, immigration integrity remains non-negotiable.

With the door narrowing, many Indian aspirants are now turning toward Australia and the UK, where approval rates rose 20 per cent and 15 per cent in 2025, respectively.

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