Canada, once among the top destinations for Indian students, has imposed its toughest visa regime in over a decade — leading to an unprecedented 80% rejection rate of Indian student visa applications in 2025, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Indian students, who make up about 40% of Canada’s international student population, have been disproportionately affected.
Education outlet The PIE News, citing BorderPass data, reported that four out of five Indian applicants were refused in the second quarter of 2025.
The contrast with recent years is striking. In 2024, Canada admitted 1.88 lakh Indian students. Two years earlier, the number had been more than double that. But Canada’s appeal is fast declining: the share of Indian students choosing Canada fell from 18% in 2022 to just 9% in 2024. Germany has overtaken Canada as the top preference, attracting 31% of Indian students.
The sharp drop is tied to Ottawa’s domestic pressures, including housing shortages, stretched infrastructure, and rising political demands to prioritize local talent.
“It’s clear that IRCC is applying far greater scrutiny to new applications. This is a fundamental shift in government processing,” Jonathan Sherman, vice president of sales and partnerships at BorderPass, told The PIE.
Canada has also raised financial and regulatory barriers. The minimum proof of funds for students has been doubled to CA$20,635 (about â¹13.13 lakh), while work regulations for international students have tightened. The government plans to issue 4.37 lakh study permits in 2025 — down nearly 10% from 2024, according to VnExpress.
Germany Emerges as the Winner
Germany is rapidly gaining ground as an alternative for Indian students. With its strong economy, publicly funded universities, and growing number of English-language programs, it has become a prime destination.
According to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, the number of Indian students has doubled in five years, rising to nearly 60,000 in 2025 from 49,500 in 2023.
Experts say Indian students are increasingly looking toward destinations that offer affordable, high-quality education along with promising career opportunities.
As the US, UK, and Canada grapple with domestic pressures, countries like Germany are positioning themselves as the new global hubs for higher education.