World-class education, affordable cost of living, and better career prospects are three factors that encourage international students to choose Canada as their preferred study abroad destination. As of December 2022, ~8,07,000 international students hold valid Canadian study permits. And over 2,26,000 applications were submitted by Indian students.
Over time, the applications for Canadian study permits have increased. However, for various reasons, the permit can be rejected. Most of the rejections are based on some common reasons. So, let’s take a look at the reasons why Canadian student visas may be rejected and tips to avoid rejection.

Key Highlights

• Why can a Canadian student visa get rejected?
  • Financial insufficiency
  • Poor academic performance
  • No letter of acceptance
  • Incomplete documents
  • Study programme not aligned to academic background and career plans
  • No intention to return to home country post-completion of education
• What to do after Canadian student visa rejection?
• Tips to improve chances of Canadian student visa approval

Why can a Canadian student visa get rejected?
The immigration authorities may reject a Canadian study visa on the following grounds:

• Financial Insufficiency: To get a study permit, it is essential to prove that you have adequate funds to support the cost of education in Canada. If you fail to provide proper documents showing your financial capability to live and study in Canada, the immigration officer may reject your visa. Thus, it is crucial to make financial arrangements in advance and apply for a loan for education in case of financial constraints.
• Poor academic performance: Poor academic scores may lead to the rejection of visa applications. Similarly, low scores in English language proficiency tests like IELTS will represent poor English language skills. Therefore, you must obtain the minimum academic scores and a good IELTS score as specified by the Canadian educational institution to get visa approval.
• No letter of acceptance: A letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is mandatory to obtain a valid Canadian study permit. DLI is a college/university approved by the territorial or provincial Canadian government to host international students. Apart from this, meeting the university-specific entry requirements is also essential for getting a study permit.
• Incomplete documents: When you apply for a Canadian study visa, immigration officers will examine your academic, travel and identity documents thoroughly. Any discrepancy in any of the documents may lead to visa rejections. For instance, giving inaccurate or incomplete travel history records or missing information may lead to visa rejection. Similarly, the student visa may be rejected due to insufficient documents for ID verification and false academic records.
• Study programme not aligned to academic background and career plans: The study programme you choose to study abroad is one of the decisive factors for visa approval. If your study programme is not aligned with your past academic record and projected career path, you will have difficulty getting visa approval unless you offer a reasonable explanation.
• No intention to return to home country post-completion of education: A study permit is a temporary visa with a definite validity period. The visa will be rejected if the visa officer feels that you are unwilling to return to the home turf post-completion of your course. Thus, convince them about your honest intentions to return to your home country before the visa expires.

What to do after Canadian study visa rejection?

You can reapply for a Canadian study permit if it gets rejected. However, it is wise to know all possible reasons for visa rejection before reapplying to avoid those mistakes. Kindly note that the Canada student visa processing time is ~45 days. Therefore, please apply for a visa in advance to avoid the hassle. It is advised to follow the below-mentioned valuable tips to increase the chances of visa approval on the first attempt.

Tips to improve chances of Canadian student visa approval

• Fill out your visa application form accurately and completely without leaving any column blank.
• Check the official immigration website of Canada to get accurate information about the mandatory documents to attach to a visa application form.
• Attach salary slips or bank statements if you have work experience.
• If your study programme is not aligned with your prior education, clearly explain in the statement of purpose the reason for choosing the specific programme and how it will accelerate your career.

Feel free to apply for a study loan for abroad courses if you are facing any financial constraints. At Avanse Financial Services, we offer hyper-personalised education loan that covers the holistic cost of education, including tuition fees, accommodation costs, living expenses, and other education-related expenses. So, call us to know more!