Student Visa Latest News and Updates for International Students 2025-26

Studying abroad has been a dream for many students, due to its excellent education system, a chance to experience different cultures, and improved career opportunities. Around 13.35 lakh Indian students are studying abroad as per the data collated by Rajya Sabha. However, the rules for international student visas are always changing to keep up with economic shifts, immigration policies, and job market demands. In 2025, many popular study destinations—like Canada, US, UK, Australia, and various European nations introduced important student visa updates. These rules affect everything from financial requirements to opportunities for work after graduation. Here’s a quick summary of new visa rules for international students in 2025.

This Story also Contains

1. Student Visa Rules for Canada 2025
2. Student Visa Rules for USA 2025
3. Student Visa Rules for UK 2025
4. Student Visa Rules for Australia 2025
5. Student Visa Rules for Germany 2025
6. Student Visa Rules for Finland 2025

Student Visa Rules for Canada 2025

To study in Canada, aspiring students need to be updated with the regulations so as to meet all the requirements for a successful visa process. Here are the recent student visa updates Canada.

1. The Canadian government has eased the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) rules for all graduates from Canadian bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes. All graduates from Canadian universities and colleges are eligible for the PGWP.

2. International students can now work for 24 hours per week and full-time during academic breaks. The working hours allowed for international students used to be 20 hours per week.

3. The Quebec government is capping the number of international students allowed to enroll in the province's post-secondary institutions by 20 percent this year. The government of Quebec wants to contain the increasing flow of international students by imposing a limit of 124,760 acceptance certificates in the coming year.

4. Canada has discontinued the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program, which previously sped up visa processing.

5. A new policy has been introduced that places a two-year cap on international student visas. The goal here is to better manage the number of foreign students coming in.

6. The Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) has been raised to CAD 20,635, meaning that applicants are required to demonstrate higher financial capacity to cover living expenses.

Student Visa Rules for USA 2025

USA being one of the most popular study abroad destinations, attracts a higher volume of student intake. Understanding the new US visa rules 2025 will help in a better visa process.

1. USA is preparing to revoke more student visas in the near future, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared on 14th March 2025. This decision follows the arrest and possible deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student from Columbia University. Similarly, a recent case of Ranjani Srinivasan, a 27-year-old PhD student in Urban Planning at Columbia, came to the US on an F-1 student visa. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed in a statement on 14th March 2025 that her visa was revoked on March 5 as she is said to be involved in some terrorist activities.

2. You can now reschedule your Visa appointments once without having to pay any extra fees. However, if you need to reschedule a second time, there will be a non-refundable fee of USD 185 (about INR 15,730).

3. The recent changes to H-1B visa rules aim to ensure that only skilled workers receive US work permits. Applicants will now be required to prove their educational qualifications that should be aligned with the job they're applying for.

4. The number of visa appointments is set to rise to 1 million by 2025. This increase is crucial for reducing wait times and tackling the growing backlog of visa applications. Right now, the wait time for a US B1/B2 Visa in India exceeds 400 days across all five centers. For instance, at the US Visa New Delhi Centre, the wait for a B1/B2 visa is currently 442 days, while F, M, and J visas have a wait time of 85 days.

5. Another significant student visa update is the Interview Waiver for previous US visa holders. Those who have held H-1B visas before can skip the in-person interview, allowing new applicants to take priority.

6. Students transitioning from F-1 visas to H-1Bs, along with those whose H-1B visas expired more than a year ago will not be able to get fast-track options.

7. The OPT extension has increased to 3 years for students studying STEM courses in USA. In addition, after completing the OPT, you can now get a 60-day grace period. Also, international students can now spend 5 months outside the country while enrolled in the academic program.

Student Visa Rules for UK 2025

Studying in UK is a dream for many study abroad aspirants. However, UK has strict student visa regulations. It is highly advisable to follow the UK student visa updates to avoid any confusion.

1. Applicants are now required to show more proof of funds than before. This amount is 11% more than what was required earlier. Note that the applicant must have these funds for at least 28 continuous days to fulfill this requirement. Applicants must now show GBP 1,483 per month for living expenses in London and GBP 1,136 for other cities.

2. Students must now complete their course program before applying for a graduate visa. Additionally, family members are no longer allowed to enter the UK as dependents of graduate visa holders.

3. The next phase of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) has become mandatory for non-European nationals from January 8, 2025. This will impact the entry process in the United Kingdom.

4. If you're applying for the UK Skilled Worker Visa for the first time, you'll need to show that your income is at least GBP 38,700 to cover your living expenses. Also, you will need to have a sponsorship from a UK employer that has been approved by the Home Office.

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Student Visa Rules for Australia 2025

The Australian authorities have tightened the student visa requirements. The Australian student visa new rules ensure a fair and smoother visa process. The student visa updates Australia are as follows.

1. A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is now required instead of a Letter of Offer. From 1st January 2025, CoE has been considered as a mandatory document for application.

2. A new and increased IELTS score is required for different visa types in Australia.

3. Due to a shortage of accommodation in Australia, the authorities have decided to cap the Australian student visa. 2,70,000 enrolment will be capped by Australian immigration.

4. The Australian visa application fee has also been increased to AUD 1,600.

5. According to the Australian student visa new rules there has been an increase in the proof of funds requirement. From AUD 24,505 being the required funds, the amount has been increased to AUD 29,710.

6. For the Temporary Graduate Visa, the new age limit is 35. However, the 2 year extension of post-study work rights has been removed.

Student Visa Rules for Germany 2025

Germany is one of the top choices for international students. 458,210 international students are currently studying in Germany. Learning about the new student visa regulations for Germany should be the priority if you are aiming to study in Germany.

1. To increase the processing time of German student visas, Germany has transitioned into a fully digital visa application system.

2. From 280 half days per year, the working days for international students have been increased to 140 full days.

3. The amount of funds required for international students in Germany is EUR 11,904. The 6% increase is done to prove that one can incur the cost of living in Germany.

Student Visa Rules for Finland 2025

Finland is one of the emerging countries to study abroad. Finnish authorities have released some new student visa rules.

1. The requirement to apply for the study permit every year is no more required. Instead, the students need to apply once for the study permit which will last for the entire course.

2. The working hours for international students have been increased to 30 hours per week. Earlier international students were only given 25 hours per week to work.

3. The validity for the Post Study Work Visa for Finland was 1 year. But, now it has been extended to 2 years.

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