MUMBAI: Canada’s once-reliable pathway for Indian students is narrowing fast. Approval rates for Indian study permit applications continue to be volatile, with a 27% drop in approvals compared to the first quarter. Overall, Canada’s study permit approvals increased in the second quarter of 2025 even as application volumes remained subdued. “The data shows a small drop in total applications processed this quarter, but a big improvement in outcomes,” said Jonathan Sherman, Vice President of Sales and Partnerships at BorderPass, an immigration guidance agency.However, one of the most striking trends is India’s continued decline. Approvals fell seven percentage points from 20% in Q1-a dramatic reversal from the 80% approval rates Indian students enjoyed just a few years ago. In contrast, China saw stable growth in Q2, surpassing 65% approval, and South Korea remained a consistent top performer at over 85% approvals.Overseas education counsellor Maria Mathai said India’s student volume to Canada is highly skewed towards college applications. Till recently, college applications were 70% of India’s total applications. The BorderPass data shows college approvals declined in Q2 by 13% while university applications’ approvals went up by 17%. “So India’s declining approval rate is driven by this larger trend – of reduced approval rates for college applications. Canada is prioritising university student applications across all countries. That is their changed focus now,” she said. Overall in Canada, approvals rose by 4,450 in Q2, lifting the approval rate by 10%.