Canada is reportedly preparing to introduce sweeping new powers to revoke visas en masse, following a surge in fraudulent visa applications originating from India and Bangladesh. Internal government documents obtained by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reveal that Canadian authorities are deeply concerned about rising document forgery and are seeking legislative authority to address the issue.
According to a CBC News report published on Monday (November 3), a new legislative proposal titled Bill C-12 has been introduced in Parliament. The government hopes to pass the bill swiftly, which, if enacted, would grant immigration authorities unilateral power to cancel multiple visas simultaneously without individual case reviews.
The leaked documents suggest that officials from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), in coordination with U.S. partners, have formed a working group dedicated to identifying and eliminating fraudulent travel visa applications. The report explicitly identifies India and Bangladesh as “countries of particular concern,” citing a high incidence of forged documents and misrepresentation in visa submissions.
While the internal memo directly points to these South Asian nations, Canadian Immigration Minister Lena Diab publicly framed the proposal as a response to global emergencies such as pandemics and wars, avoiding any mention of specific countries.
Despite the government’s assurances, more than 30 civil society organizations have voiced serious concerns over the proposal. Groups like the Migrant Rights Network argue that granting the government unchecked authority to cancel visas in bulk could lead to arbitrary decisions and potential human rights violations. “This law risks turning Canada’s immigration policy into a tool of mass exclusion,” one statement warned.
Meanwhile, the Hindustan Times reported that visa rejections for Indian students applying to study in Canada have reached record levels. In August 2025, nearly three out of every four student visa applications from India were rejected—a rejection rate of about 74%. By contrast, the rate in August 2023 stood at just 32%. During the same period, the number of Indian student visa applications dropped from 20,900 to just 4,515.
The Canadian government has attributed this sharp decline to widespread fraud in international student admissions. A Reuters report confirmed that authorities uncovered about 1,550 fake admission letters in 2023, and more than 14,000 fraudulent documents were detected last year through an enhanced verification system.
In light of these revelations, Canada has already implemented a second round of restrictions on international student permits, aiming to tighten oversight on temporary migration and prevent misuse of study and work visas.
Analysts note that the issue poses a dual challenge for Ottawa: balancing its need to maintain the integrity of its immigration system while preserving its global reputation as a welcoming destination for international students and skilled migrants. However, the proposed Bill C-12—if passed—could mark a significant shift toward stricter immigration enforcement and a more cautious approach to South Asian applicants.
