In 2025, Canada rejected 62% of student visas, the tightest policy in ten years: Who is left out?

Canada, long considered one of the most inviting locations for international education, is closing its doors quicker than ever before.

According to News, new figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) show that a record 62% of student visa applications were rejected in 2025, up from 52% last year and far over the 40% average of previous years.

For many students around the world, the statistics represent more than simply paperwork barriers, but a fundamental shift in Canada’s approach to global education.

A ten-year-high rejection rate

IRCC figures show that rejection rates have reached their highest level in ten years. With some stating that up to 80% of their applications have been denied, Indian applicants seem to be the most impacted. While a detailed split by country has yet to be released, the scale of denials suggests that students from Asia, Africa, and beyond may be affected, according to News.

This sudden tightening comes as a shock to families who see Canada as a path to opportunity. According to VnExpress, the country will host over one million international students in 2024, trailing only the United States, with 41% coming from India, 12% from China, and more than 17,000 from Vietnam. The most recent data point to a shift in that equilibrium.

Why Canada is closing the door

Immigration experts attribute the rejections to increased domestic pressures. Ottawa has stepped in due to a number of factors, including housing shortages, pressures on the infrastructure, and worries about students’ capacity to sustain themselves.

Along with stronger scrutiny, Ottawa has upped the minimum financial proof requirement to CA$20,635 (US$14,963). Students must also present clear study schedules and error-free documentation, according to the consultancy ApplyBoard. These safeguards, officials claim, are intended to ensure that only well-prepared candidates enter the system.

Fewer permits and tougher rules.

The government intends to provide 437,000 study permits in 2025, nearly 10% fewer than the previous year. According to VnExpress, approximately 120,000 are made aside for school-aged children and renewals, 243,000 are set available for undergraduates and other programs, and 73,000 are set aside for postgraduate students.

The rules for post-graduate employment permits have also tightened. University graduates must now provide English or French language test results at the B2 level or higher, while college graduates must have at least B1. According to Pie News, any student who transfers to an unapproved program will no longer be eligible for a post-study employment permit. In addition to the modifications, Ottawa has discontinued the Student Direct Stream, which formerly allowed students from 14 countries to obtain speedier visas without providing financial documentation.

The big picture for pupils

For the almost a million students who chose Canada in 2024, the prohibition poses grave questions about their future. The promise of global education, which was formerly tightly linked to Canada’s open-door policy, is now being weighed against the country’s own social and economic limits.

The implications extend beyond the individual applicants. Universities and colleges, many of which rely largely on international tuition fees, are experiencing uncertainty. Source countries, ranging from India and China to Vietnam, must also deal with the fact that prospects abroad are shrinking.

Who pays the cost?

In the end, students bear the biggest load. They spend months preparing documentation, verifying finances, and developing study programs, only to see their goals dashed by policy developments beyond their control. For families, denials mean not just money loss but also the postponement of a goal.

Canada remains a popular study destination, but the message is clear: global education is no longer assured, even in places traditionally considered safe bets.