Canada's Open Door Closes: Indian Student Permit Rejections Skyrocket to 74%
Canada's wide-ranging clampdown on international students has disproportionately affected applicants from India, with new data revealing a staggering three in four applications are now being rejected.
Government figures show that in August 2025, 74% of Indian applications for study permits were refused. This marks a dramatic surge from August 2023, when the refusal rate for Indian applicants was approximately 32%.
This new, stricter environment has caused a collapse in application numbers. In August 2023, Indians made up over a quarter of all applicants, with 20,900 applying. By August 2025, that number had plummeted to just 4,515.
The data confirms that while Canada is getting tougher on all student applications, Indian students are facing the highest hurdles. The overall refusal rate for all countries in August 2025 was 40%, while the rate for applicants from China was only 24%.
Why the Sudden Clampdown?
The massive spike in rejections is the result of a deliberate, two-pronged federal strategy to overhaul an immigration stream seen as running out of control.
1. A Crackdown on Fraud
The government is aggressively targeting application fraud. This effort was spurred by the 2023 discovery of nearly 1,550 study permit applications linked to fraudulent letters of acceptance, most of which originated from India.
In response, Canada's immigration department has implemented an "enhanced verification" system. This new process has already identified more than 14,000 potentially fraudulent letters from all applicant countries in the past year.
2. A Cap on Temporary Residents
For the second year in a row, Canada lowered the total number of international student permits it will issue. This is part of a broader government effort to reduce the population of temporary migrants, which has been blamed for straining the nation's housing market and social services.
All applicants now face a higher bar, including increased financial requirements to prove they can support themselves. Visa specialists note that applicants must now provide extra documentation, such as showing exactly where their funds originated.
This policy shift is also set against a backdrop of lingering diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, which have been strained since 2023.
Universities Feel the Impact
The sharp decline in Indian students is already being felt on Canadian campuses, which had come to rely on their tuition fees.
The University of Waterloo, home to Canada's largest engineering school, has reported a two-thirds decline in the number of students from India over the last three to four years.
The University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan have also reported notable drops in their Indian student enrollment.
An official from Waterloo noted the drop had "altered the composition of the student body" at an institution that "prides itself on being an international university."
"Study, Work, Stay" Sours
The new reality is a stark contrast to the "Study, work, stay" slogan that Canada promoted for years.
Jaspreet Singh, founder of the International Sikh Students Association, who came from India in 2015, noted that the welcoming attitude has soured. He acknowledges that fraud is a serious concern but also points to a new sentiment among would-be students.
As it becomes more difficult to gain permanent residency or find a good job in Canada after graduation, the country is losing its allure. Singh said that some recently rejected applicants appear to be relieved.
"They are happy they didn't come," he stated.
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