Canadian student visas1 may be refused for many reasons, and immigration officers may give more than one reason for refusal. In fact, per Immigrations, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) data for January 2024 to May 2024, an average of 2.6 reasons were given for each refusal.2 This has increased slightly since 2022, when officials cited an average of 2.1 reasons for each refusal.
Financial reasons for study permit refusal are some of the most common reasons for refusal in this time frame, and could point to an increased focus on students’ financial capacity. There is also an ongoing shift around how family ties inside and outside Canada are assessed. Lastly, when it comes to common reasons why permits are refused, every student population is different.
Today, we’re taking a closer look at full-year 2023 data and January to May data for 2024 to see how study permit refusals have evolved. We’ll dive into general refusal trends, notable shifts due to government policy changes in 2024, and we’ll take a closer look at common study permit refusal reasons in India, Nigeria, and the Philippines.
Key Insights at a Glance
- In 2023, IRCC approved 60% of Canadian study permits. However, from January to May 2024, the approval rate dropped to 54%.
- The most common reason for study permit refusal in 2023 and 2024 is that the immigration officer was unconvinced the applicant will leave Canada.
- In 2024, financial reasons (the applicant’s financial situation appears insufficient to support the stated purpose of travel) is the next most common reason. In 2023, the second-most common reason for refusal was doubt around the applicant’s purpose of visit.
Canadian Student Visa Approval Rates Continue to Fluctuate
The Canadian Government projected a study permit approval rate of 60% for 2024 in its student visa cap calculations. But since the pandemic, approval rates have failed to exceed this threshold. From January through May in 2024, the approval rate was just 54%—the lowest it’s been since 2020.
The chart below looks at the recent history of Canadian study permit approval rates:3
This lower approval rate could be due to a number of complicating factors. Historically, the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia have approval rates which exceed the national average while all other provinces lag behind. So, although the government adjusted their study permit application caps to bolster provinces with lower-than-average approval rates, seeing a depressed approval rate average in 2024 may mean provincial approval rates within Ontario and British Columbia are lower, or that approval rates outside of these provinces aren’t improving.
Top Reasons for Canadian Student Visa Application Rejection
Over 106,000 study permit applications were refused and almost 125,000 were approved from January to May of 2024.4 The most common reason for refusal in 2023 and 2024 was that the immigration officer was unconvinced the applicant will leave Canada after their studies. This can be a standalone reason, or the officer can attribute their uncertainty to one or more additional factors. The next most common refusal grounds, both cited in roughly 50,000 applications so far this year, are the following:
- The applicant’s assets and financial situation appear inadequate to support the stated purpose of travel (becoming an international student).
- The purpose of their visit isn’t consistent with a temporary stay.
From January to May 2024, a higher proportion of study permits were refused due to inadequate assets compared to inconsistent purpose of visit. Interestingly, the fourth and fifth most common refusal reasons were also financial: insufficient access to funds for tuition, and insufficient access to funds for living expenses.
Note: When the minimum proof of financial support amount was increased in December 2023, it was noted that study permit applications received before January 1, 2024, could use the pre-existing proof of finances amount (C$10,000). Applications received on or after that date had to prove access to the updated amount (C$20,635).
As a reason, “unspecified” is used when immigration officers wish to provide more details in the refusal letter.5 It was used in 19% of refusals in 2023 and 14% so far in 2024. While those amounts are considerable, this write-in option is now used less frequently. Its use peaked in 2021, appearing in over 41% of study permit refusals, before declining in each subsequent year.
These same refusal reasons were cited most often in 2023, but in a different order. Inconsistency around the applicant’s purpose of visit was cited in 59% of all study permit refusals, whereas insufficient assets appeared in 47% of refusals. Unspecified was the next most common reason, then inability to pay tuition, followed by inability to pay for living expenses.
To show financial readiness, including a minimum of six months of bank statements showing withdrawal and deposit history is helpful. Recurring deposits are viewed more positively than a single large deposit. While investments, jewelry, and property are not considered proof of funds, they may be used as proof of assets, or as evidence of establishment in a student’s home country.
Most Common Student Visa Refusal Reasons for Indian, Nigerian, and Filipino Students
Common reasons for refusal vary by country, due to a variety of complex factors. Below, we look at the five most common reasons study permits were refused for Indian, Nigerian, and Filipino students, and we discuss how to set future students up for success.
Proving Purpose of Stay is Key for Indian Students
The two most common reasons Indian students’ study permits are refused include uncertainty the student will leave Canada after their stay and a perceived inconsistent purpose of visit:
Recruitment partners and institutions can support prospective Indian students by providing resources to help them write an effective personal statement. Done well, personal statements let students share their genuine interest in the specific program they’ve enrolled in and outline how their chosen program helps their career progress. Additionally, recruitment professionals must encourage students to be honest. Being caught misrepresenting material facts, as over 1,000 Indian applicants were in 2024, has real consequences: those students were not only refused a study permit, but they are also barred from entering Canada for five years.
Showing Financial Capacity is Vital for Nigerian Students
Reasons for Nigerian students’ study permit refusals were fairly consistent through 2023 and early 2024. Several of the most common reasons involved applicants’ finances:
That said, the proportion of study permit applications rejected for “insufficient assets for the stated purpose of travel” is decreasing slowly. It was cited in 74% of refusals for Nigerian students in 2021 and 2022, but dropped to 71% in 2023 and 2024.
When applying for a study permit, Nigerian students may be eligible for the pilot Nigeria Student Express stream (NSE). While this stream has slightly different requirements (like a mybankStatement digital certificate showing 12 months of banking statements), it is designed to help Nigerian students’ study permit application process run more smoothly.
Proving Intent and Employability is Vital for Filipino Students
In 2023 and 2024, most rejected Filipino study permit applications were refused due to perceived student intent. Four out of five rejections were at least partially due to the immigration officer’s belief the applicant wouldn’t leave Canada after graduation. Additionally, nearly three of four rejections in 2024 involved the “purpose of visit” reasoning:
When applying for a study permit, Filipino students are eligible for Canada’s Student Direct Stream (SDS). SDS applications must include proof of financial capacity via a GIC, but non-SDS students can also take advantage of GICs to strengthen their study permit applications.
As current and future employability were some of the most common reasons Filipino students’ applications were refused, it’s a good idea to have a career plan with concrete steps, be aware of job market trends in their home country, and be able to talk about how this study program can prepare them for new opportunities.
Did you know that in 2022, Filipino students’ average age was 31? This is driving increased enrolment at the post-secondary level and K-12 level, as parents travel (and learn) with their children.
How Family Ties Affect Study Permit Refusals
In 2023 and 2024, one of the most-used reasons for study permit rejection was a lack of significant family ties outside of Canada. These applicants are arguably less likely to leave after their studies, as a key motivator to return to their country of citizenship (family) is less relevant.
However, before students who have family both inside and outside Canada despair, the use of “significant family ties within Canada” as a reason for rejection has dwindled significantly after peaking at over 42,000 uses in 2021:
In 2023, “significant family ties in Canada” was cited in just over 2,500 study permit refusals. So far in 2024, it’s been used only 600 times. Meanwhile, “no significant family ties outside Canada” is also on track to decrease year-over-year.
This shift may reflect the evolving IRCC stance on dual intent. An IRCC update to dual intent instructions in April 2023 outlined that while students’ intention to study must be genuine, also wanting to work and live in Canada after graduation should be seen as complementary, not conflicting purposes. It is encouraging to see IRCC update their guidance to reflect how many international students are interested in a well-rounded Canadian experience, by both developing their skills in study programs and growing their career through the Post-Graduation Work Permit program (PGWP).
Key Takeaways
With financial reasons comprising three of the five most common reasons for Canadian study permit rejections in 2023 and early 2024, it’s vital for aspiring international students to clearly illustrate their financial capacity. Although working while studying is a reality for most students, applicants must be able to show they can reliably pay for tuition and living expenses.
One of the best ways to show proof of finances is with a Guaranteed Investment Certificate, or GIC. If students are applying through the government’s expedited Student Direct Stream (SDS), a GIC is mandatory. Because of the more rigorous application process, past data has shown that students applying through the SDS have a significant advantage over their non-SDS counterparts. That said, GICs may also be a good way for students in the general study permit application stream to help show they have the requisite funds.
ApplyBoard is proud to work in partnership with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and TD Bank, two of Canada’s largest and most trusted banks, to provide the first digitally verifiable GICs. Immigration officials and students can use an ApplyProof code to quickly and easily verify the submitted GIC.
Whether working with students as a recruitment professional or as part of an academic institution, it’s more important than ever to provide current and reliable resources so students can create compelling study permit applications. Encourage students to start their applications early, so they can acquire supporting documents and write strong statements of purpose without having to rush.
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FOOTNOTES:
1. The terms student visa and study permit are generally used interchangeably for Canadian international students. Rather than student visas, Canada provides accepted international students with study permits, which allow those students to enrol in classes at Canadian institutions. When a student is accepted for a study permit, they are also usually provided with a visitor visa, which allows that student to enter Canada for their studies.
2. From January to May 2024, 106,542 study permits were refused. 279,064 instances of refusal grounds were given over that time frame. 279,064 ÷ 106,542 = 2.619, thus 2.6 reasons (on average) per refusal.
3. All statistics are for new study permits only. Data is courtesy of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, unless otherwise stated. 2024 data is for January 2024 to May 2024 exclusively.
4. While the majority of study permit applications are either accepted or refused, a smaller percentage are withdrawn during the application process.
5. Zahid, Salma et al. “Differential Treatment in Recruitment and Acceptance Rates of Foreign Students in Quebec and in the Rest of Canada: Report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration,” pg. 127. May 2022.
