Canada’s Student Visa Rejection Rate Hits 62% in 2025 Amid Stricter Rules

Canada has long been a top choice for international students. But new numbers show the country is getting stricter. Recent data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals that 62 per cent of student visa applications were rejected in 2025.

Last year, the student visa rejection rate in Canada was 52 per cent. In earlier years, the average was closer to 40 per cent. For a lot of applicants, this isn’t just about paperwork. It signals a fundamental shift in how Canada is approaching international education.

Rejection Rates at Their Highest in Ten Years

The latest rejection rate is the highest in a decade. Indian students have been hit the hardest, with reports suggesting up to 80 per cent of their applications were turned down. However, the country hasn’t shared a full country-by-country breakdown, but applicants from Asia and Africa are also facing major difficulties.

In 2024, Canada welcomed more than one million international students, the second largest number in the world after the United States. Nearly half were from India, followed by students from China and Vietnam. That picture is now changing fast.

Why Canada is Rejecting More Applications

The sharp rise in visa rejection is linked to problems at home. Housing shortages, high living costs, and concerns over whether students can support themselves have all pushed the government to tighten the rules.

Key changes include:

• Higher financial proof: Minimum funds doubled to CA$20,635 (about US$14,963) in December 2024.
• Stricter paperwork checks: Applications must be error-free with detailed study plans.
• Closer scrutiny: Immigration officers are reviewing files more rigorously than before.

Fewer Study Permits and New Rules

For 2025, Canada plans to issue 437,000 study permits, around 10 per cent fewer than last year. Of these, 73,000 are for postgraduate students, 243,000 for undergraduates and other programs, and 120,000 for school-age children and renewals.

The rules for post-graduation work permits have also been tightened:

• University graduates must show English or French test results at the B2 level or higher
• College graduates need at least a B1 level
• Students in unapproved programs no longer qualify for post-study work permits
• The Student Direct Stream, which gave faster visas to students from 14 countries, has been shut down

The Numbers Behind the Change

The cap on international students, introduced in 2024, is now even tighter. Last year, Canada issued only 267,890 new study permits, almost 100,000 fewer than its official target and nearly half of what was granted in 2023.

As of June 2025, Canada still has a large international student population:

• 546,562 people hold a study permit only
• 312,010 hold both work and study permits

But the overall trend is clear. The government is cutting back.

What This Means for Students and Universities

For students, the new reality is tough. Families invest months preparing documents and arranging finances, only to face rejection. Many now have to look at alternatives like Australia, the UK, or Germany.

For Canadian universities and colleges, the impact is also serious. International tuition fees have been a key source of income. With fewer approvals, institutions face uncertainty about enrolments and may have to make difficult decisions about programs and staffing.