The number of Indian students who received study permits has fallen by over 93% in the last two years, reports the National Post. Data received from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reportedly shows that, in 2023, 149,875 Indian applicants received study permits between January and the end of August. By comparison, only 9,955 permits were approved in the same period in 2025. National Post reports that this year, the rates of refusal for students from India are higher than for students from other countries. An IRCC spokesperson explained that changes to strengthen the International Student Program’s integrity and address vulnerabilities, including the verification process for letters of acceptance, may have affected approval rates.
