Canada Rejects 62% of Students Visa Applications in 2025.
Canada, long seen as one of the most welcoming destinations for international students has rejected a record 62% of student visa applications in 2025, its toughest stance on international students in 10 years.
Fresh data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) show the rejection surge follows last year’s 52% and far above the 40% average of previous years. Indian students have been hit hardest, with up to 80% of applications denied, while detailed country breakdowns were not disclosed, Pie News reported.
Immigration experts say Ottawa is tightening approvals amid concerns over housing shortages and pressure on infrastructure. “IRCC is clearly scrutinizing study permit applications much more strictly,” said Jonathan Sherman, vice president of BorderPass, a Canada study permit support platform.
The government has doubled the minimum financial proof required for students to CA$20,635 (US$14,963), sparking doubts about international applicants’ ability to fund their studies. Applicants must also present clear study plans and avoid incomplete paperwork, consultancy ApplyBoard said.
Canada plans to issue 437,000 study permits this year, down 10% from 2024, including 73,000 for postgraduate students, nearly 243,000 for undergraduates and other programs, and around 120,000 for school-age children and renewals.
Rules for post-graduation work permits are also stricter: university graduates must provide English or French test results at B2 level or above, and college graduates at least B1. Students switching to unapproved programs will no longer qualify for post-study work permits. The government has also shut down the Student Direct Stream, which had allowed faster visas without financial proof for applicants from 14 countries.
Despite the clampdown, Canada still hosted over one million international students in 2024, ranking alongside the U.S. as the world’s top destinations. Indian nationals made up 41% of that total, Chinese students 12%, and more than 17,000 were from Vietnam.
