Canada Now Rejecting 75% of Indian Student Visa Applications — Key Reasons Explained

Canada has denied close to 75% of study permit applications from Indian students in August 2025, marking a dramatic surge in rejections as the country tightens rules on international admissions and cracks down on fraudulent applications, government data shows.

The rejection rate for Indian applicants has more than doubled from 32% in August 2023 to about 74% this year, even as overall visa refusal rates for international students held steady at around 40%. In comparison, only about 24% of Chinese student applications were rejected in the same period.

The steep rise coincides with a significant fall in applications from India — from 20,900 in August 2023 to just 4,515 two years later — signalling a sharp decline in interest from what was once Canada’s largest source of foreign students.

The shift follows Ottawa’s decision to further reduce international student permits in 2025, part of efforts to curb temporary migration and address widespread visa fraud. Canadian authorities said last year they detected nearly 1,550 fake admission letters, many linked to India, and their upgraded verification system later flagged more than 14,000 likely fraudulent documents.

While the Indian embassy in Ottawa acknowledged rising rejection rates, it emphasised the strong academic record of Indian students, saying Canadian institutions had “greatly benefited” from their talent. Canadian officials, meanwhile, said the tougher screening process is aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the immigration system, not shutting out Indian applicants.

The development comes as India and Canada attempt to stabilise diplomatic ties strained during the Justin Trudeau administration.