The year 2025 saw one of the biggest shifts in global study visa norms, affecting students planning higher education in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Tighter financial requirements, reduced post-study work windows and new eligibility criteria shaped the choices of thousands of Indian applicants, especially in the early part of the year when approval rates dipped and processing delays grew across major destinations.
Canada's Cap Led To Fewer Study Permits
Canada's long-term cap on study permits continued to influence the higher education landscape through 2025. The cap led to fewer seats at the master's and doctoral levels and contributed to a visible drop in acceptance rates. Students applying to Canadian institutions were also required to show stronger proof of funds, with living-expense benchmarks rising sharply.
UK Reduced Graduate Route Tenure, Tightened Rules
For the UK, 2025 was the year when the Graduate Route visa, previously valid for two years, was reduced to 18 months. The shorter tenure pushed many students to rethink their post-study plans.
Visa fees rose, maintenance-fund requirements increased, and rules on bringing dependants became more restrictive. Most postgraduate taught students were no longer eligible to bring family members, a change that made the UK less accessible for those seeking long-term settlement or family support abroad.
Shift In US Visa Model
The United States moved away from the long-standing "duration-of-status" model in 2025. Under the revised system, visa validity became tied directly to the length of a student's academic programme. The change also brought stricter background checks and a more structured renewal process.
What 2026 May Bring
Early indications suggest further tightening in 2026.
Canada is expected to continue its study-permit quota and may link work permissions more closely to labour-market needs.
The UK may introduce additional financial checks and add more controls on dependants and post-study work routes.
The US is likely to standardise fixed-term visas and extend security-screening timelines.
Expert View
"Canada will likely continue with its study-permit quota and may increasingly require students to have work permissions closely aligned with labour-market needs. The UK will likely tighten financial norms further and may introduce additional controls on dependants and post-study work. In the US, fixed-term visas may become standard practice, along with longer background-check timelines," Ritika Gupta, CEO and Counsellor at Aera Consultants, said.
"As a result of these anticipated policy changes for 2026, international students will need stronger financial resources, apply earlier and keep documentation more precise. Many may also begin exploring alternative destinations in Europe or Asia, where visa procedures remain relatively easier to navigate. Clearer pathways for post-study work in both 2025 and 2026 will continue to shape global student mobility decisions," she added.