Across all international student populations, 41% of Canadian study permit¹ applications at all study levels were approved in 2025. In early 2026, the approval rate rose to 44%.² However, at the country-by-country level, approval rates varied significantly, including some large fluctuations year-over-year: the number of student populations achieving study permit approval rates of 80% or more dropped from 67 in 2025 to 59 in early 2026.

However, among some of Canada’s largest international student populations, approval rates were much lower. From January to April 2026, only one in four study permit applications submitted by Nigerian students was approved. Meanwhile, Indian students’ approval rate rose by 11 percentage points versus full-year 2025, but still sat at just 41%. And only 12% of study permit applications by Ghanaian students were successful in early 2026.

Which grounds for refusal are used most often varies by country. But this data revealed that these three student populations saw very similar study permit rejection reasons. Below, we’ll look at the five most-used reasons why study permits were refused for Nigerian, Indian, and Ghanaian students in 2025 and 2026, plus some strategies that can help these students prepare a strong application.

Want a closer look at overall student visa refusal reasons? We dive into full-year 2025 and early 2026 trends in the first part of this series.

Establishing History and Financial Capacity is Key for Nigerian Students

Among Nigerian students, the two most commonly cited study permit refusal grounds were tied to uncertainty the student would leave Canada after graduation. The first of these was due to the applicant’s travel history, followed by the state of their current financial assets:

However, “not being satisfied the applicant will leave Canada based on financial assets” can’t stand independently as grounds for refusal for financial reasons.³ That means this reason coincided with insufficient resources for living expenses, tuition, or other financial requirements in over 70% of refused applications.

Prospective students must both understand the current costs of living in Canada and be able to prove their financial capacity. Note that how much money students will need to show access to will change as the average cost of living in Canada does, and how students can show their proof also evolves.

For example, in a July 2026 update to the Canadian government’s visa application guidelines, showing six months’ worth of bank statements is now recommended (up from four months). Moreover, the statements must include either the month of application or the one prior. Additionally, a bank draft which can be converted into Canadian dollars is no longer on the government’s list of accepted proof of funds documents. When counselling students, ensure they prepare the right types of documents. It’s also key to check that these documents outline the individual or sponsor’s financial capacity for the required amount of time.

Explaining Purpose is Vital for Indian Students

In early 2026, the officer’s belief that the applicant didn’t intend to leave Canada contributed to over 90% of refusals among Indian applicants. Whether the travel history cast doubt, or the application content made it sound like the student wished to stay permanently, intent and history were key stumbling blocks.

In fact, three out of the five most commonly cited grounds for refusal were related to the immigration officer’s belief that the applicant wouldn’t leave Canada after graduation:

At the same time, each of the three most common financial reasons for refusal were cited in roughly 33% of all cases in early 2026. This is strikingly higher than their usage in 2023 and 2024, when they appeared in about 3% percent of cases.

With higher scrutiny on financial capacity added to doubt about student intent, it’s more important than ever that student advisors and admissions teams offer thoughtful, timely support to prepare future Indian students for this step in their study journey. Careful coaching on drafting personal statements which ensure students have clearly explained how they plan to support themselves while studying is helpful, as is ensuring students provide adequate financial supporting documents.

Proving Student Intent is Key for Ghanaian Students

In nearly every case where a Ghanaian applicant’s study permit was refused in early 2026, the immigration officer was unconvinced the student would leave Canada after graduation based on their travel history. Compared to 2025 data, the use of this reason jumped by 16 percentage points:

Some of Ghana’s neighbouring and nearby countries have travel advisories per the Government of Canada. (As of August 2026, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger all have “Avoid all travel” risk levels). As such, applications from Ghanaian students who have traveled to these countries over the past 10 years may receive extra screening. Additionally, given Ghana’s average GDP per capita (US$3,310),⁴ and the expense of international travel, many Ghanaian applicants may not have a travel history for officers to evaluate.

The upswing in rejections related to insufficient funds for tuition and living expenses suggests applications are being carefully reviewed to assess financial capacity. So, applicants must both understand the current costs of living and studying in Canada, and be able to prove their financial capacity.

It’s also important that applicants answer all questions accurately, and without withholding relevant information. Within the 10 most common grounds for refusal among Ghanaian applicants, 2025 data showed that 8% of study permit applications from this population were refused either because the immigration officer thought the applicant wasn’t being truthful, or was withholding key information. Comparatively, these reasons factored into 5% of refusals for the Nigerian student population, and 1% of refusals for Indian students.

Preparing Students for Success

Supporting students as they prepare to apply can be time-consuming and tricky, but it’s a pivotal part of the student journey. Whether you’re an international education advisor or part of an academic team, offering resources which are trustworthy and up-to-date, and connecting students with professionals like RCICs who can give specific immigration advice can make the difference between study permit success and rejection.

And, in an era of near-constant policy change, setting news alerts for key terms related to top destinations and international education can help you stay ahead of the curve. This is true for both established and social media, where students test ideas or crowd-source answers. A TikTok or Reddit post you see today might tie into a question five students have for you tomorrow.

If you’re part of an institution looking to enhance your understanding of sector-wide trends, connect with our Commercial Partnerships team to learn how ApplyBoard’s insights dashboards, global support team, and careful analysis of in-house and government data can help you prepare for upcoming intakes.

About the ApplyInsights Team

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 at Canadian institutions. When a student receives a study permit, they are also usually provided with a visitor visa. The visitor visa allows that student to enter Canada.

2. Data is courtesy of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), unless stated otherwise, and does not include study permit extensions. 2026 data is solely for January through April.

3. The current study permit assessment guidelines state that this reason [R216(1)(b): I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay, as stipulated in subsection 216(1) of the IRPR, based on your personal assets and financial status] cannot be the sole reason for refusal based on failure to meet financial resources. Officers can only cite this reason in addition to section R220, if the student is being refused on financial grounds.

4. International Monetary Fund, “IMF DataMapper – Ghana.” Updated April 2026. Accessed August 2026.