A study suggests that 41% of employers offer high salaries to students who have studied abroad. Therefore, millions of students from across the globe travel to sought-after study destinations to earn their degrees. Canada is one such leading study destination that offers advanced and top-notch education programs to students from different directions on the map. International students willing to study in Canada need a study permit and a Canadian student visa to enter the country. The process of applying for and obtaining a Canadian student visa or study permit is initiated after securing admission to a Designated Learning Institute (DLI). As per the records of IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), around 6,40,000 international students are holding student visas in Canada. Each year marks an increase in the number of these visa holders. The rise in visa applications has also led to an increase in the number of rejections. The percentage of rejection of such visas is reported to be around 30% every year. Various reasons for the rejection of Canadian student visas need to be addressed by international students to ensure smooth sailing in their study abroad dream.
The rate of rejection has increased due to the ever-growing popularity of Canadian universities. Since the number of applications is far more than the admission capacity of these universities, applicants with good academic records are rejected too. It is significantly difficult to get a visa approved in Canada due to a large number of aspirants. Students should figure out the various reasons behind a rejected visa application so that they can minimum the chances of refusal.
Given below are some of the most common reasons for the rejection of Canadian student visas:
Top reasons for rejection of Canada student visa
1. Financial Instability
The officers check your financial independence and ability to pay at least one year’s tuition at the college you are enrolling in before issuing you a study visa for Canada. If they find you to be able to do so without starving yourself, they will grant you the visa.
Students who are successful in their applications typically have financial documentation demonstrating their ability to live in Canada for a specific amount of time without working. They do not, however, provide the necessary financial documentation to demonstrate that they have enough money to pay for the college they are applying to for at least one year of tuition. In Canadian universities, tuition starts at $15,000 CAD. The government anticipates that students from other countries will have the financial means to cover their tuition and other costs. It requires credible evidence of financial stability for this reason. By making sure that you don’t just concentrate on presenting justification for the bare minimum required fund, you might potentially solve this issue. Instead, it is advised that you include proof of adequate finances for more than one year and additional financial documentation with your application for a study permit in Canada.
2. Inadequate Identity or Travel Documents (including Lack of Travel History)
Visa officers have the right to reject your visa application if you don’t have a complete record of your travels or if your identity documents are not clear. The visa officer will examine your travel records to determine which periods are problematic if they believe there are gaps in your travel history. In order to decide whether you can be accepted to Canada due to a medical condition or criminal conviction, the visa authorities will verify your identification through your documentation.
Additionally, if you stated on your study permit application form that you have prior travel experience but do not have sufficient documentation to support this claim (e.g., a previous passport with visas or stamps of entry and exit from the countries you visited), your application may be denied. This is because you did not provide sufficient documentation to support your claim. It would be excellent if you could support your travel history with adequate documentation and proof. Your identification documents must be uncomplicated and simple to understand. To make it simple for the IRCC officer to understand your online application, be sure to arrange your scanned documents chronologically.
3. Poor Academic Performance
Educational records and academic consistency are checked by the visa officers. An overall academic record is screened by visa officials. Good grades are very important for approval, but that is not all. The approval or rejection of a visa application will highly depend upon the scores of English language proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL. Also, if your academic records are inconsistent, it will be questionable. International students should prepare themselves with the assistance of counselors, who can guide them with the best remedy to such inconsistencies.
A student visa is a temporary visa that has an expiration date. Hence, the visa officials will want to confirm if the international students will return to their home country after completion of the course. International students may decide to settle in Canada after completion of the course due to a lack of opportunities in their home country. However, this can be a reason for the rejection of a student visa. So, when the intention of coming back to the home country is low, the applications are straightaway rejected. International students should show their eagerness to return to their home country after completion of the course through the application form and visa interview. To get visa approval, applicants also need to produce convincing statements and documents regarding the huge scope of job opportunities in their home country.
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The Canada hosts the largest number of international students from across the world. Over the past few years, it has become one of the most popular destinations for studying abroad. Reasons such as best-ranked institutions, excellent support facilities, flexible academic environment, and cultural diversity contribute to making it the most preferred destination amongst students planning to study abroad.
5. Study program that is consistent with work experience and past qualifications
Student visa may get rejected if your selected specialization doesn’t match with your past qualifications and work experience. If the course you are applying for is not consistent with your past work experience and educational qualifications, then you must be able to explain why you are changing your field of interest. Whatever you speak or mention in your application should be substantiated with a valid proof.
6. Letter of acceptance
The Designated Learning Institute (DLI) should offer a letter of acceptance to every student at the time of admission. Every international student needs to submit this letter of acceptance from their respective DLIs to the visa officials. If under any circumstance, the students don’t receive the letter of acceptance, the visa or study permit will be squarely rejected. The students need to produce a letter of acceptance along with minimum eligibility criteria proof as stated by the Canadian government. Additional or any supporting personal document or statement can be attached to the application form.
7. Choice of program
The visa officers pay close attention to whether your chosen study program matches with your future professional aspirations or your prior educational background (and work experience, if applicable). They will raise an issue if they notice that you are suddenly changing your field of interest or stream of study.
Common academic-related reasons for the rejection of Canada student visa:
Applying for PG Diploma with very high GPA in Bachelors
Applying for PG Diploma after Masters
Career Gap
Second Masters (non-MBA)
Program not aligned with prior education (e.g. applying for Nursing program with an Engineering degree; or applying for Logistics & Supply Chain Management after working in the HR, Teaching, Accounts or Law sector).
There is no alternative to convince the visa officials that it at least signifies of some worth to you. For this, you must include a thorough personal statement as well as other records pertaining to your academic background. If you find yourself in a situation like this, keep in mind that detailing is the key.
Tips to Decrease the Chances of Canadian Student Visa Rejection
Here is some valuable information that will help you reduce the chances of your Canadian Student Visa rejection:
Make a list of essential documents required to apply for a Canadian student visa.
Fill the visa application form carefully and cross-check all the information.
Make sure that you upload a copy of the offer letter that you received from a recognized Canadian university.
If applied under the Student Partnership Program, the candidate must have the proof of finances.
If you have relevant work experience, make sure that you submit your bank statements and salary slips as proof.
Mention your travel history and visa rejections (if applicable) in the visa file.
While applying online, make sure that you answer all the questions on the CIC website.
Your statement of intent plays a crucial role in making the visa officer familiar with the candidate. So, make sure that you mention your academic achievements and your intent to study in Canada.
What to do if Student Visa is Rejected for Canada?
If your student visa for Canada gets rejected for some reason, you can always re-apply and make sure that you don’t make the same mistakes that you made the first time. Here are some steps that will help you move forward.
1. Figure out the reason behind the rejection of the Student Visa
There are many reasons for which your student visa can get rejected. Make sure that you know what was the reason in your case. Some of the Canadian student visa rejection reasons are given below
Inadequate funds and lack of proof to support abroad education.
False documents.
If a candidate lacks language proficiency.
If a candidate fails to confirm his immediate return to India after completing their education.
The candidate does any misconduct during the visa interview process.
Inability to justify the purpose of choosing a particular course, country, or university.
Not being able to provide reasonable answers during the interview.
2. Rectify the problem
If you succeed in knowing the mistake that led to the rejection of your visa application, the next involves correcting that mistake.
Mistake
How can you rectify it?
Lack of funds
Ensure that you have enough funds to support your education abroad
Wrong information
Mention the correct information before reapplying
Inability to state the purpose behind choosing a course, university or country
Make sure that you are fully aware about the course, university and country you’re applying into
Your answers lacked the ability to convince the visa officer.
Be clear about why you want to pursue higher education. Research about the facts of your country and practice your answers well.
If your intention of visiting the country was
not clear
Ensure that you make a reliable impression on the visa officer about your aim of studying abroad.
3. Re-Apply for Student Visa
While reapplying for a student visa you can apply for the same country. However, if you have got multiple rejections from the same country, you can apply to another country. Let’s discuss both the possibilities –
a) Re-Apply in the Same Country
If your visa got rejected for the first time, there’s a possibility that you’ll get it the second time. Make sure that you don’t make the same mistakes that lead to the rejection this time.
If you appeared for a visa interview, you can ask the visa officer why your visa got rejected. However, if you weren’t asked to give the interview, you must have received a document explaining the reason for your rejection. Once you know the reason, make sure that you rectify your mistake this time before re-applying.
b) Try Applying for Other Countries
Suppose a country constantly rejects your student visa, and you no longer wish to apply for the same; you can always explore other options by applying for a visa in other countries that provide the same quality of education.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the top reasons for the rejection of Canada student visas in 2024 is crucial for prospective international students aiming to study in Canada. Common issues such as insufficient financial proof, unclear study plans, doubts about the applicant's intention to leave Canada after studies, inadequate language proficiency, and incomplete documentation highlight the need for thorough and careful preparation of the visa application. By addressing these potential pitfalls proactively, students can significantly improve their chances of acceptance. It's important for applicants to present a clear, coherent application that convincingly demonstrates their academic intentions, financial stability, and temporary stay in Canada. Awareness and rectification of these common reasons for rejection are key steps toward successfully securing a student visa, paving the way for a rewarding educational experience in one of the world's most welcoming countries for international students.
There are various reasons behind the rejection of a Canadian student visa. Some of them are inadequate funds and lack of proof to support education abroad, false documents, poor language skills, misbehaviour during the visa interview process, failure to explain the reason behind choosing a particular course, university and country and not being able to confirm an immediate return to India after completing his education.
Can I get a Canadian study visa after refusal?
Yes, you can get a Canadian study visa after refusal by re-applying for the visa and making sure that you have all the necessary documents required to appear for the new visa interview. Confirm your finances before reapplying for the visa and practice your answers for the interview.
What do Canadian visa officers check for student visas?
Canadian visa officers check your connections to Canada and your home country. This further includes your family connections, employment status, immigration status, property and other things that ties you to your country and to Canada. Other factors that visa officers take into consideration include your travel history and finances.
What can you do if your visa is rejected?
If your visa is rejected you can always re-apply provided that you don’t make the same mistakes that denied your visa in the first place. If you receive several rejections from the same country, you always have the option to apply for another country.
What is the age limit for student visa in Canada?
In Canada, there is no upper age limit for obtaining a student visa. The university may admit students of any age. However, people of higher age may not be granted a study permit by IRCC (formerly CIC). You need to justify and convince IRCC of the necessity and relevance of a study at an older age after taking a few or several years of break since your last study.
Kanika has 5+ years of experience as a writer and content developer. She has written for a wide range of industry verticals, including hospitality, restaurants, non-profits, finance, IT, HR, technology, payroll, and education. She has worked as a creator for a few leading companies and has also helped brands grow through her creative writing.
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