Sources: 
Canada's recent overhaul of its student visa policy intensifies challenges for international students, especially from Asia. The 10-point framework mandates that applicants demonstrate financial resources exceeding CAD 22,895 for living costs, in addition to covering tuition and travel expenses.
"The increased financial threshold for study permit approval will disproportionately impact students from middle-income Indian families," highlights a key concern as families struggle to meet these heightened requirements.
As of 2024, India has nearly 500,000 students in Canada, making it the most affected nation under this new framework, where strict country-specific caps and elevated financial barriers are introduced due to increased asylum claims and visa overstays.
"The new policy strikes India on two simultaneous fronts: higher financial barriers and country-specific caps," officials note, indicating a significant tightening of student access to the Canadian education system.
Moreover, China, the second largest source of international students, faces similar challenges, emphasizing a growing competition for admission among qualified candidates.
As of mid-April 2026, many Indian applicants receive study allowance permissions within three weeks, but the new rules reshape the landscape, making it crucial for students to navigate these financial and bureaucratic obstacles to achieve their educational goals.
Sources: Canada's new 10-point visa rules pose challenges for Asian students, particularly from India and China, imposing higher financial thresholds that require applicants to demonstrate greater financial reserves and introducing stricter country-specific permit caps, affecting their access to study permits and financial support.
