Canada, long seen as a preferred hub for higher education, especially among Indians, has tightened its visa rules to the most restrictive level in a decade — altering the global map of student mobility.
Data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows that nearly 80% of Indian student visa applications were rejected in 2025.
Indian students make up around 40% of Canada’s international student population. Yet, four out of five Indian applicants faced refusals in the second quarter of 2025, according to education outlet The PIE News, citing figures from BorderPass.
Government data shows that Canada admitted 1.88 lakh Indian students in 2024 — a sharp decline compared with more than double that figure just two years earlier. Canada’s share of preference among Indian students has also tumbled, from 18% in 2022 to just 9% in 2024.
While Ottawa has not shared a detailed country-wise breakdown, reports indicate that students across Asia, Africa and other regions are facing similar hurdles. Experts link the policy shift to Canada’s domestic challenges: a housing shortage, stretched infrastructure and political calls to prioritise opportunities for local talent.
“It’s clear that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is applying far greater scrutiny to new applications,” Jonathan Sherman, vice president of sales and partnerships at BorderPass, told The PIE, describing the move as a “fundamental shift” in government processing.
Canada has also raised the bar for applicants. The minimum financial proof requirement has doubled to CA$20,635 (around ₹13.13 lakh), according to VnExpress. Work regulations for international students have become tighter, and the government has announced that it will issue 4.37 lakh study permits in 2025 — nearly 10% fewer than in 2024.
As Canada toughens entry, Germany is emerging as a strong alternative for Indian students. With a stable economy, publicly funded universities and an increasing number of English-language programmes, it is fast becoming a top destination.
According to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, the number of Indian students in the country has more than doubled in five years, reaching nearly 60,000 in 2025 from 49,500 in 2023. Germany is now preferred by 31% of Indian students, surpassing Canada.
For decades, North America — led by the US and Canada — was the default choice for Indian students, drawn by safety, world-class institutions and career opportunities. But domestic pressures in these countries are forcing students to look elsewhere