Nearly 75% of Indian applications to study in Canada institutions were rejected in August. What used to be a popular destination for Indian students is losing its appeal. Canada’s restrictions on international students have affected applicants from India the most, according to government data.
Canada Rejects 75% of Indian applications
In early 2025, Canada cut the number of international student permits issued for the second year in a row. This decision aimed to reduce temporary migration and address issues of student visa fraud.
Indian applicants faced the worst rejections. In August 2023, the rejection rate was 32%. This year, around 74% of Indian applicants were denied permits to study at Canadian post-secondary institutions. Meanwhile, about 40% of all study permit applications were rejected in both months. Approximately 24% of Chinese study permits faced rejection in August 2025.
Major drop in applications from 20,900 to 4,515
The data also revealed a significant drop in the number of Indian students applying for study permits. Applications fell from 20,900 in August 2023 to 4,515 in August 2025.
Why is Canada rejecting so many Indian applications? In 2023, Canadian authorities found that nearly 1,550 study permit applications included fake letters of acceptance, many of which came from India, according to the immigration department. The upgraded verification system flagged over 14,000 likely fraudulent letters of acceptance from applications received last year.
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