Canada appears to have imposed its most restrictive visa regime in a decade, contrasting to the fact that the country was long considered a preferred hub for international education, especially among Indians.
How Did This Happen?
These latest policies have altered global student mobility as nearly 80% of Indian student visa applications were rejected in 2025 as per the data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Considering this data, Indian students comprise around 40% of Canada’s international students.
But now it has changed as four out of five Indian applicants received refusals in the second quarter of 2025, education outlet The PIE News reported, citing figures from BorderPass.
Over 1.88 lakh Indian students were admitted in 2024, as per data from the Canadian government.
This is decreasing as this number was more than double two years ago.
The high rejection rate is affecting students across Asia, Africa and beyond, showing how Canada is changing its approach to international education, as per the media report.
North America was considered as the default choice for many students for decades which was drawn by safety, opportunity and world-class institutions.
In recent times, Canada’s share of preference among Indian students has fallen from 18% in 2022 to just 9% in 2024 pointing to a major shift.
But the dynamics changed for Germany as it has overtaken as the top choice, now preferred by 31%.
Domestic Challenges, Greater Scrutiny, A Fundamental Shift
When it comes to Ottawa’s decision to tighten visa approvals, it is closely tied to domestic challenges, including housing shortages, strained infrastructure and political calls to prioritise local talent.
The vice president of sales and partnerships at BorderPass, Jonathan Sherman said, “It’s clear that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is applying far greater scrutiny to new applications,” while talking to PIE.
Further describing the change as a “fundamental shift” in government processing.
Besides this, there are other additional barriers also in place, for instance Canada has doubled the minimum financial proof required for students to CA$20,635 (about Rs 13.13 lakh), while work regulations for international students have become stricter, reportedly.
Now government is planning to issue 4.37 lakh study permits in 2025, which is nearly 10% fewer than 2024 as per the media.
In the meantime, Germany is witnessing a rise in international enrolments.
The country is reportedly becoming a prime destination for Indian students considering its strong economy, publicly funded universities and expanding English-language programmes.
The number of Indian students seem to have almost doubled over the past five years, rising to nearly 60,000 in 2025 from 49,500 in 2023, according to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany.
There is shift in selection as Indian students are now choosing countries that offer affordable, quality education with good career prospects.
