A new report has revealed that nearly three out of every four Indian students applying to study in Canada had their visa applications rejected in August 2025. The rejection rate reached 74%, a steep jump from 32% in August 2023, according to data from Canada’s immigration department, as cited by Reuters.

In comparison, the overall rejection rate for students from all other countries remained around 40%, while 24% of Chinese applicants faced refusals this year. The number of applications from India also dropped drastically from nearly 20,900 in August 2023 to just over 4,500 in August 2025. India, once the top source of international students for Canada, now has the highest rejection rate among all major applicant countries.

Visa clampdown and political tensions

The sharp rise in visa denials appears to be linked to Canada’s continued tightening of its international student program. Officials say these measures are meant to reduce the number of temporary migrants and address growing fraud in student visa applications.

The issue also comes amid ongoing diplomatic tension between India and Canada. Relations between the two countries soured after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed there were “credible allegations” linking the Indian government to the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Khalistani extremist. India strongly rejected the allegations, calling them “absurd,” but the controversy has strained ties ever since.

Fraud cases prompt stricter checks

Over the past two years, Canadian immigration authorities have uncovered widespread fraudulent visa applications, many involving fake admission letters from Canadian colleges. In 2023, about 1,550 such cases were found, most involving Indian applicants. By 2024, this number jumped to over 14,000 suspected fake college acceptance letters worldwide, according to Reuters.

As a result, the immigration department introduced tougher verification steps and increased financial requirements for international students. In an official statement, the department said these changes were made “to protect the integrity of the system” and ensure that only genuine students are granted study permits.

The Indian High Commission in Ottawa confirmed it was aware of the rising rejection rates but stated that visa approvals are entirely Canada’s decision. “We would like to highlight that Indian students are among the most talented and hardworking in the world,” the embassy said, adding that Canadian universities have long benefited from the academic excellence of Indian students.

Canada’s response and impact on education

During her visit to India in October 2025, Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand reaffirmed that Canada remains open to welcoming Indian students. However, she emphasized that the government’s top priority is to maintain the integrity of its immigration system and prevent fraud.

Canadian universities are already seeing the impact of these stricter policies. At the University of Waterloo, known for its strong engineering programs, enrolment from India has reportedly fallen by nearly two-thirds in the last few years. Ian VanderBurgh, Associate Vice-President for Strategic Enrolment Management, said the drop has changed the diversity of students on campus. “We take pride in being an international university,” he noted, adding that the government’s visa restrictions have reshaped the overall student population.

Other universities, such as the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan, have reported similar declines in Indian student numbers, raising concerns about the long-term effects on both academic diversity and university revenues.

Tougher scrutiny for applicants

Visa experts say that Canadian immigration officers are now examining financial documents and academic backgrounds more carefully than ever before. According to Michael Pietrocarlo, co-founder of the visa advisory firm Border Pass, simply submitting a few bank statements is no longer enough. “Students now need to clearly show where their money comes from and how they will support themselves,” he explained.

For many Indian students, Canada has long been a dream destination due to its world-class universities and post-graduation work opportunities. However, with the rising rejection rates, stricter checks, and tense political relations, the path to studying in Canada is becoming increasingly difficult.

Unless relations between the two countries improve and the fraud issues are fully resolved, experts believe Indian students may start looking toward other destinations such as the UK, Australia, or Germany for their higher education dreams.

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