Canada’s Recent Improvement in Visa Approval Rates for African Students Canada’s visa approval rates for African students have been historically low, sparking discussions about systematic racism. In 2022, there was an increase in approval rates for students from top African source markets such as Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon, and Ghana. However, over half of African students still face visa rejections when applying to study in Canada.
Challenges for Canadian Francophone Institutions Visa rejection rates are particularly challenging for Canada’s francophone colleges and universities, limiting their potential for growth in French-speaking Africa. The high rate of rejection for French-speaking Africans hampers educational partnerships between the two regions.
High Visa Refusal Rates in the US An analysis of US Department of State student visa data reveals declining F-1 visa approval rates, especially for South American students, since the pandemic. African students have encountered a 54% visa rejection rate in 2022, significantly higher than European students’ 9% rejection rate.
Implications for Educational Institutions High visa refusal rates pose challenges for educational institutions in Canada and the US. Educators’ investments in recruiting international students may yield lower returns, and African students might be discouraged from applying to institutions with high visa rejection rates.
Impact on US Higher Education System As domestic enrollments decline in the US, the health of the higher education system depends on attracting sufficient international students. Discriminatory visa policies could hinder US institutions from competing for African students, who are expected to constitute a significant proportion of the global youth population in the future.
Growing Interest in Recruiting African Students While some traditional Anglophone destinations like Canada and the UK also face higher visa denial rates for African students, other countries such as France and China are aggressively recruiting African students. There is potential for US institutions to explore similar opportunities to attract students from the African continent.