Canada sees a dramatic fall in student permits for Indians as rejections rise and verification tightens. Here’s what the new numbers reveal.
A Steep Fall That Few Saw Coming
Canada has seen a surprising and dramatic change in its student permit numbers, and the drop is hitting Indian students the hardest. Even though Canada usually welcomes large numbers of international learners, the country is now approving far fewer permits. And because the shift happened quickly, many families are now trying to understand what it means for future plans.
Numbers Show a Huge Year-to-Year Decline
From January to August this year, Canada approved 9,955 study permits for Indian students. Last year, during the same period, the number stood at 76,930, and the year before that it reached 149,875. So the decline has been sharp, sudden, and unusually large. And because the drop is more than 90%, many observers say it marks a major turning point in Canada’s international education strategy.
Why Canada Is Issuing Fewer Permits Overall
Canada has started reducing its overall international student intake because the government says high population growth created pressure on housing, healthcare, and education. Therefore, this year’s national cap fell by 10%, reaching 437,000 permits. Since this followed another reduction from the previous year, the trend now seems clear: fewer students will be accepted going forward.
Why Indian Students Are Feeling It More
Even though the national cap affects everyone, Indian students have been hit harder than most groups. Two years ago, Indians made up about 35% of all applicants. This year, they account for just under 17%. And because rejection rates climbed sharply, many applicants never made it past the first stage.
This year alone, 71% of Indian applicants were rejected, compared with 58% from all countries combined. Last year, rejection rates were far lower—only 23% of Indian applicants were turned away.
Canada Says Fraud Concerns Are Part of the Issue
Because permit fraud has become a growing problem, Canada tightened its verification process. Last year, authorities found more than 14,000 suspicious or fraudulent acceptance letters, and many of these cases involved documents linked to India. Earlier, in 2023, Canadian officials uncovered 1,550 fraudulent applications tied to fake letters of acceptance.
So as Canada’s system becomes stricter, more applications are being checked more closely. And because of that, approvals for Indian students have dropped more sharply than for most other groups.
How Canada Explains the Trend
Officials say all applications are reviewed using the same rules. They also say that approval depends on the strength of each application and the accuracy of the documents provided. In other words, the government insists that the process is the same for everyone, regardless of country of origin. However, because the pool of applicants is now smaller and the checks are tighter, results look very different than they did just two years ago.
A Turning Point for Students and Schools
The change affects not only students but also colleges and universities that once relied heavily on Indian enrolment. And as the numbers continue to shift, many institutions are now rethinking their recruitment strategies.
Meanwhile, families in India are watching the trend closely, because even strong applicants are facing longer waits, tougher screenings, and higher chances of rejection.
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