Toronto: Canada’s intensified efforts to curb student visa fraud have led to a steep rise in rejections for Indian applicants this year, signaling a dramatic shift in the once-thriving education corridor between the two countries.
According to figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) cited by Reuters, 74 percent of study permit requests from India were denied in August 2025 — more than double the 32 percent rejection rate recorded in August 2023. The overall global refusal rate stood at 40 percent, while China’s was considerably lower at 24 percent.
Decline in Indian Applications
The number of Indian students seeking Canadian study permits has plummeted sharply, falling from 20,900 in August 2023 to just 4,515 this August. Once Canada’s largest source of international students, India now records the highest refusal rate among all major applicant nations.
Tighter Checks After Fraud Scandals
The surge in rejections follows a series of fraud revelations over the past two years. In 2023, Canadian authorities uncovered more than 1,500 fake study permit applications, the majority linked to India. By 2024, new verification systems flagged over 14,000 potentially forged documents.
In response, Ottawa strengthened background checks and raised the amount of financial documentation required to prove genuine intent to study. The federal government has also tabled Bill C-12, which would grant the immigration minister new powers to revoke large groups of temporary visas if widespread fraud is detected.
Strained Ties and Policy Fallout
The visa crackdown comes against the backdrop of lingering diplomatic strain between India and Canada following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2023 remarks alleging Indian involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist in British Columbia — a claim New Delhi firmly denied.
Internal Canadian policy papers reportedly identify India and Bangladesh as “country-specific challenges” in managing temporary migration.
Universities Feel the Impact
Canadian universities that once relied heavily on Indian enrolment are now seeing steep declines. The University of Waterloo reports its Indian student numbers have fallen by nearly two-thirds over the past few years. Similar trends have been observed at the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan, where administrators say visa limits and lengthy processing times have reshaped campus demographics.
Official and Industry Reactions
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa has acknowledged the spike in visa refusals but stressed that Indian students continue to maintain high academic standards. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said the government remains open to welcoming students from India but must “safeguard the integrity of the immigration system.”
Education consultants now warn that applicants must provide detailed financial records and verifiable academic credentials to stand a realistic chance of approval.
Signs of Diplomatic Thaw
Despite the turbulence, both governments have signaled a willingness to stabilize relations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Canada in June 2025 marked a modest reset, with new high commissioners appointed in New Delhi and Ottawa soon after.
Yet challenges persist: processing times for temporary resident visas have grown from 30 to 54 days since early 2024, and approvals dropped from 63,000 in January 2024 to 48,000 by midyear.
Analysts say that while the current measures aim to protect Canada’s immigration system, they risk discouraging genuine students from India — a demographic that has long been central to Canada’s international education success.
