Globally, visa rejections for Indian students are on the rise, with top destinations like Canada, the US, and Australia becoming increasingly difficult to access.
In Canada, the immigration authority, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), rejected 74% of student visa applications from Indian students in 2025, more than double the 32% rejection rate in 2023.
Out of 4,515 applications filed by Indian students in 2025, only 1,196 were approved, compared to 20,900 approvals in 2023. Overall, the rejection rate for Indian students across all countries is around 40%, compared to 24% for Chinese students.
Canada has stated that the stricter visa process aims to limit the number of international students and prevent fraudulent applications.
In 2023, Canadian authorities uncovered 1,500 fraudulent Indian student visa applications, prompting changes in immigration policies that now contribute to higher rejection rates.
In the United States, 41% of F-1 visa applications from Indian students—about 2.79 lakh—were denied between October 2023 and September 2024, marking the highest rate in over a decade and double the rate seen in 2014. This is also an increase from 36% (2.53 lakh) denials during 2022–2023.
In Australia, visas granted to Indian students fell by 48% between December 2022 and December 2023, reflecting a similar tightening of immigration policies.
These policy changes in multiple countries are creating significant barriers for Indian students aspiring to study abroad, affecting their academic and career plans.
