There are 100 reasons why your Canada student visa could get rejected
- Canada continues to break records for the number of international students it welcomes each year. But with fewer than three in five students getting approved for their study permit, the country is turning away more students each year as well.
- According to data released by the IRCC, nearly 320,000 study permit applications were refused in 2022 alone. From 2021 to 2022, IRCC approved 58% of Canadian study permits.
- There are 90-plus reasons why an immigration officer can refuse a student visa, but most reasons, including the 30 most common, can be grouped into four categories.
There are reasons for why an immigration officers can refuse a study visa
- The immigration officer doesn’t believe the applicant will return to their home country after they complete their studies.
- The immigration officer doesn’t believe the applicant can support themselves financially in Canada while studying.
- The applicant has not provided certain documents or information to the government.
- In 94% of study permit refusals for Indian nationals from 2021 to 2022, IRCC was not satisfied that the applicant would leave Canada at the end of their stay based on the purpose of their visit.
Purpose of Visit
- The most common reason a study permit application was refused in 2021 or 2022 was a failure to convince the Canadian government that the applicant would leave Canada at the end of their stay based on the purpose of their visit.
- 77% of Canadian study permit refusals from 2021 to 2022 cited a failure to convince IRCC that the purpose of the applicant’s visit was to study.
- Percentage of New Canadian Study Permit Refusals for Which Inconsistent Purpose Was Cited as a Refusal Reason, 2021–2022
| Rank | Source Market | Total Refusals | Instances Cited | % of Cases |
| 1 | India | 260,434 | 245,279 | 94.2% |
| 2 | Iran | 16,899 | 15,561 | 92.1% |
| 3 | Bangladesh | 9,781 | 8,460 | 86.5% |
| 4 | The Philippines | 18,113 | 15,108 | 83.4% |
| 5 | Algeria | 17,017 | 13,744 | 80.8% |
Family Ties in Canada
- A much smaller number of applications are refused on the basis that the applicant has significant family ties in Canada.
- This means that the immigration officer doubts the applicant’s plan to return home after completing their studies.
- 12% of applications in 2021 and 2022 were refused at least in part due to the applicant’s family ties in Canada. 0.7% of Indian applications were rejected because of this.
Financial Resources
- In 2021 and 2022, 24% of the cases were refused because the IRCC was not satisfied that the applicant’s assets and financial situation were sufficient to support their stated purpose of travel.
- It’s vital that applicants from these countries supply adequate proof of funds in order to secure their Canadian study permit. Expertd recommend the applicant provide a minimum of six months of bank statements showing their withdrawal and deposit history.
- While there are several types of documents you can use to show proof of financial support, one of the most trusted is a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) purchased from a CDIC-insured financial institution. A GIC can prove to IRCC that you have the financial means to support yourself while you study in Canada.
Steady increments of funds from a clear source are more relevant than a single large deposit. Property, jewellery and other investments are not considered proof of funds, though they can be used to prove an applicant’s establishment in their home country or as proof of assets.
