Jasmine Grover Content Strategy Manager
Content Strategy Manager | Updated On - Nov 4, 2025
Canada’s student visa system is under renewed scrutiny after government data revealed a 74% rejection rate for Indian study permit applications this August. Immigration authorities attribute the surge in denials to rising fraud, fake college offer letters, and stricter financial checks.
A separate CBC report suggests that Canada is considering new legal powers to cancel large groups of visas if fraudulent activity is detected — a move that could affect applicants from India and Bangladesh in particular.
Latest Study in Canada News for Indian Students
- Canada Launches Personalized PR & Citizenship Tracker — Applicants Can Now See Their Place in Line
- Canada Sees Nearly 60% Drop in International Student Arrivals in 2025 — IRCC Data Reveals Impact of Stricter Visa Rules
Why Rejections Have Soared?
According to internal documents reviewed by media outlets, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have flagged a steep increase in fraudulent letters of acceptance, many originating from India. In 2023, officials uncovered over 1,500 fake college offers linked to Indian agents. Since then, Ottawa has upgraded its verification system, which has now flagged over 14,000 suspicious documents.
To tighten oversight, the government has:
- Increased financial proof requirements for study permit applicants for study in Canada.
- Expanded background verification for institutions in Punjab and Gujarat.
- Diverted staff from approvals to fraud detection, slowing down processing.
- Average visa processing time jumped from 30 days in mid-2023 to 54 days by 2024.
Fallout for Indian Students
For Indian aspirants — who have long formed the largest group of foreign students in Canada — the consequences are serious:
- Study permit approvals dropped from 20,900 (Aug 2023) to just 4,515 (Aug 2025).
- Applications for the September 2025 intake have slowed drastically amid uncertainty.
- Some students are now redirecting to the UK, Australia, and Ireland, where intakes remain more stable.
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa has urged Canada to ensure fair processing, noting that “Indian students have consistently strengthened Canada’s campuses and economy.”
What’s Next: Group Visa Cancellation Powers
The Canadian government is also advancing a bill that would legalize group visa cancellations — citing pandemic, war, or “country-specific fraud” as triggers. While the government insists this would be used only in exceptional cases, civil society groups warn it could lead to mass deportations or arbitrary cancellations.
Immigration lawyers say Ottawa may be seeking this power to manage its growing backlog, which now exceeds one million applications across categories.
Key Numbers
| Metric | 2023 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Indian student visa rejection rate | 32% | 74% |
| Study permit applications (August) | 20,900 | 4,515 |
| Avg. visa processing time | 30 days | 54 days |
| Monthly Indian asylum claims | <500 | ~2,000 |
What Students Should Do Now?
- Verify admission letters directly with universities.
- Apply at least 6–8 months early to offset longer processing times.
- Prepare strong proof of funds under updated IRCC rules.
- Track updates on official IRCC and university portals.
- Explore alternative destinations like the UK and Ireland for 2026 intakes.
TL;DR
- 74% of Indian student visa applications to Canada were rejected in August 2025.
- Ottawa blames rising fraud and stricter financial checks.
- A new visa cancellation bill may target fraud-linked regions.
- Students are urged to verify documents, apply early, and diversify options.
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