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Canada rejects 74% of Indian student visa applications amid immigration policy overhaul

While the overall rejection rate for all countries hovered around 40 per cent, Chinese applicants faced a 24 per cent refusal rate, underscoring intense scrutiny directed at Indian candidates.

Geoffrey Garrett, Jared Grusd, USC Marshall School of Business, H-1B visa, H-1B, H-1B visa fee, H-1B fee, Indian express news, current affairs

The surge in rejections is closely tied to Canada’s broader immigration policy overhaul

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) rejected 74 per cent of Indian study permit applications in August this year, marking a sharp increase from the 32 per cent refusal rate reported in the same month in 2023.

Of the 4,515 applications filed by Indian students in August 2025, only 1,196 were approved, a huge drop compared to the 20,900 submitted in August 2023, when Indian students made up more than one-fourth of all international applicants.

While the overall rejection rate for all countries hovered around 40 per cent, Chinese applicants faced a 24 per cent refusal rate, underscoring intense scrutiny directed at Indian candidates. For Indian students, whose representation among study permit holders surged from just 2 per cent in 2000 to becoming the largest cohort by 2023, the long-standing dream of “study, work, stay” in Canada is now shattered.

The surge in rejections is closely tied to Canada’s broader immigration policy overhaul, which targets fraud and controls international student numbers.

The international student cap was lowered in 2025 to 437,000 permits, a 10 per cent reduction from 2024’s 485,000, and a 35 per cent cut from prior peak levels. Indian applicants experienced a projected 31 per cent reduction in visa allocations. The first half of 2025 alone saw nearly 90,000 fewer permits as compared to 2024, with Indian applications and approvals falling sharply.

Visa fraud

A key driver of the restrictive stance is a crackdown on fraud. In 2023, IRCC uncovered nearly 1,550 fraudulent Indian study permit applications linked to fake acceptance letters.

Brijesh Mishra, a travel agent from Jalandhar, allegedly sold fake admission letters from Canadian colleges. Many students fell for it, arriving in Canada only to face deportation when authorities checked their papers during permanent residency bids. In May 2024, Mishra pleaded guilty in a British Columbia court to fraud charges, but he fled back to India. The Jalandhar police caught him at Delhi airport in June this year as he returned from Canada.

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By 2024, enhanced verification tools flagged more than 14,000 suspicious documents globally. Applicants now face rigorous “enhanced verification” procedures, requiring detailed proof of the origins of their funds rather than basic bank statements.

Jaspreet Singh, Founder, International Sikh Students Association, said, “Fraud is a concern,” and recalled how promises of smooth pathways to permanent residency drew many into risky schemes. Visa consultancy CEO Michael Pietrocarlo noted that students “may have to go the extra mile”. “Here’s where the money came from.”

These reforms have transformed the visa application process into almost an interrogation process.

Canadian colleges’ budget hit

The effects resonate across Canadian campuses, particularly at the University of Waterloo, where Indian enrollments have dropped by two-thirds over the past three years. Institutions such as the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan report similar declines, raising concerns about talent loss.

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International students contribute roughly $22 billion annually to Canada’s economy, but the shrinking Indian student segment is adversely impacting the budgets of Canadian colleges.

Diplomatic strains since 2023, including allegations surrounding the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which Canada’s former prime minister Justin Trudeau linked to Indian agents — a claim New Delhi has denied — have further complicated Canada-India relations and indirectly chilled student flows.

Acknowledging the challenges, the Indian Embassy in Ottawa stated, “Some of the best quality students available in the world are from India, and Canadian institutions have in the past greatly benefited from the talent and academic excellence of these students.”

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand emphasised the desire for Indian students tempered by a commitment to immigration integrity.

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With the Canadian gateway narrowing, many Indian students are now heading to destinations like Australia and the United Kingdom, where Indian student visa approvals increased by 20 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, in 2025.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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