Canada Rejects 80% Indian Student Visas in 2025, India Turns to Germany

9th September 2025 at 6:12 PM

2 minutes read

In 2025, Canada rejected 80% of Indian student visa applications, the highest level in a decade, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Toronto : In 2025, Canada rejected 80% of Indian student visa applications, the highest level in a decade, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The change can be seen in the admission figures. Canada only took in around 1.88 lakh new Indian students in the year 2024 based on the data presented by the Canadian government. Indian students’ top choice has also shifted, with Germany overtaking Canada, preferred by 31%.

For decades, the US and Canada have been global magnets for international students, and that continues. What we’re seeing is not rejection, but fine-tuning – ensuring opportunities remain sustainable for both international and domestic talent, says Paneet Singh, AVP – University Partnerships, upGrad Study Abroad. The reality that cannot be denied is that whereas the US has restricted foreign students and tightened visa regulations, another North American country, rather than welcoming the excess, is shutting its door more quickly.

The minimum financial requirement doubled to more than CA$20,000. Rules of work are also stricter. Language requirements for graduates of colleges are tighter, and a few post-graduation employment opportunities have been eliminated. Ottawa has even closed down the Student Direct Stream, previously available to facilitate quicker visa approvals. The government will give 437,000 study permits in 2025, nearly 10% less than last year.

To students, the wave of rejection is more than a paperwork obstacle. Parents spend a lot of money on applications, tests, and fees, only to have dreams shatter. For some, college in Canada was also a route to permanent residence. That future is in doubt. Universities, which relied heavily on overseas tuition fees, are now under financial pressure. Smaller colleges could be driven out of business or have to merge with bigger ones.

One major point experts cautioned is that as more foreign universities set up campuses in different countries, the number of students planning to go abroad is being affected. It is worthwhile to also note a lot of Top 50 US Universities have set up global campuses in Middle East and APAC, amidst geopolitical tribulations and statutory challenges, thereby recognising and creating opportunities for high-merit and high-research (intensive) students seeking access to high quality academics and infrastructure, says Paneet.

While Canada closes its doors, Germany has turned out to be the favourite destination for foreign students, states the upGrad report. Its booming economy, low or no-cost public universities, and growing English-language programmes are attracting record numbers. For fields such as technology, management, and engineering, Germany provides quality education at lower costs of living compared to North America.

Experts caution that India too needs to rethink. “In order to remain internationally competitive, India has to increase its research intensity, presently just 0.7% of GDP versus a global average of 2.5%,” says Singh. Germany’s rise marks a new age. For parents, the message is clear: foreign education no longer comes as an entitlement, even in previously secure locales. The world education map is changing, and students need to move quickly.