Canada cracks down on student visa fraud

Canada's immigration authorities have flagged 153,000 international students for potential fraud in the 2023-2024 period, but only 4,000 were investigated due to funding gaps. The IRCC has confirmed over 800 cases involving fake admission documents and falsified financial statements. A new Digital Platform Modernization system will launch by year-end to detect fraud patterns at the application stage, signaling an end to the 'soft touch' era with stricter document verification and centralized investigations. Genuine students should prepare for enhanced scrutiny on all future study permit applications.