Canada Rejects 74% of Indian Student Visas Amid Fraud Crackdown and Diplomatic Strain
In August 2025, Canada rejected about 74% of study-permit applications from Indian students — up from 32% in 2023. While the global refusal rate stayed near 40%, Indian applicants faced the highest rate among all countries. At the same time, applications dropped from around 20,900 in August 2023 to just 4,515 in August 2025.
The spike in rejections follows Ottawa’s tougher fraud checks after uncovering over 1,550 fake college acceptance letters and thousands of suspect documents. Canadian authorities have tightened scrutiny of education consultants and institutions issuing fraudulent admissions.
Diplomatic tensions between Canada and India have further strained the visa process, making it harder for genuine students to secure study permits. Experts warn the high rejection rate could push Indian students to alternative destinations such as the UK, Australia, and Germany, reshaping global student mobility trends.
