Headline

Japa: 7 Common Reasons Application For Canada Student Visa Gets Rejected

Published

1 year ago

July 8, 2024

The dream of studying in Canada is a goal for many international students, but obtaining a student visa can be a challenging hurdle.

Understanding why Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may reject a study permit application is crucial in ensuring your application is successful.

Below are 7 common reasons for student visa rejections and tips on how to avoid them.

Common reasons for Canada student visa rejection:

Not Having a Letter of Acceptance from a DLI

One of the first requirements for a Canadian study permit is securing admission to a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). A DLI is a university or college authorized to accept international students. You must attach your letter of acceptance (LOA) from the DLI to your application. Without this letter or if it’s from an unauthorized institution, your application will be rejected.

Inadequate Proof of Intent to Leave Canada

Visa officers need to be convinced that you will leave Canada after your studies. Highlighting an intention to stay in Canada post-graduation without legal provisions can lead to a rejection. Although extensions and Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) are available, your initial application should demonstrate a clear intent to return to your home country after your study permit expires.

Unclear Purpose of Visit

If your purpose for studying in Canada isn’t clear or appears insincere, your application can be rejected. A strong statement of purpose explaining why you want to study in Canada and how the program aligns with your career goals is essential. Without it, the visa officer might suspect you intend to work illegally in Canada.

Lack of Financial Security

Proving financial stability is vital. You must provide documentation showing that you have sufficient funds to cover tuition fees for the first year and living expenses throughout your studies. This can include savings, bank loans, or scholarships. For those applying through the Student Direct Stream (SDS), purchasing a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) is mandatory. Failing to demonstrate financial security will result in a rejected application.

Inconsistent or Incomplete Academic Records

Your prior education credentials, transcripts, and mark sheets must be submitted with your student visa application. These documents validate your past degrees or certifications and demonstrate your academic performance. Incomplete documents or inconsistent academic performance can lead to rejection, as the visa officer may doubt the validity of your past academic achievements or your capability as a student.

Low Language Test Score

Proficiency in English (or French if you’re going to study in Quebec or enrol in a French-language program) is an essential qualifying criterion for a study permit. A poor score on an approved language test, such as IELTS, CELPIP, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada, will likely result in your student visa being refused.

Incomplete Documentation

Missing any essential paperwork, submitting incompletely filled out forms, and not providing sufficient reasoning for the purpose of your visit or other gaps in your application can result in your study permit being denied. Aside your LOA, proof of financial support, and proof of identity, you should also include a statement of purpose (also called a letter of explanation) and a Quebec Selection Certificate if you’ll be studying in Quebec. Review the document checklist issued by your local visa office carefully, as applicants from certain countries may have to submit additional paperwork.

Headline

Court Jails Two For Targeting President With Sorcery

Published

20 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

A Zambian court on Monday sentenced two men to two years in prison with hard labour on charges of attempting to use witchcraft to kill the country’s president.

Mozambican national Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Zambian village chief Leonard Phiri were arrested in December in possession of charms, including a live chameleon.

Police said they planned to use the charms to harm President Hakainde Hichilema, and they were charged with professing knowledge of witchcraft and possession of charms.

“The motive of the crime was to kill the head of state,” magistrate Fine Mayambu ruled in the capital Lusaka on Monday.

“The convicts were not only enemies of the head of state but all Zambians. I therefore sentence them to 24 months imprisonment with hard labour from the date of their arrest,” he said.

The prosecution said the men had been hired by the brother of opposition MP Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda, who is facing trial for robbery, attempted murder and escaping custody.

Headline

Two Nigerians Face Jail Terms In Liberia’s Piracy Trial

Published

20 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

Criminal Court ‘D’ in Monrovia is set to deliver judgment this week in Liberia’s first piracy trial, involving two Nigerian nationals accused of hijacking a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to court records, the defendants were arrested earlier this year after a Liberia-flagged ship was seized by armed men while transporting goods through international waters. The crew sent a distress signal, prompting international maritime forces to intervene.

The suspects were subsequently transferred to Liberian authorities under global maritime cooperation protocols.

According to Liberia’s news platform, Front Page Africa, the case has attracted attention because Liberia maintains one of the world’s largest open ship registries, yet prosecutions for piracy within its domestic courts have not previously occurred. Under international law, Liberia holds jurisdiction over crimes involving ships registered under its flag.

On Monday, proceedings took a new turn when defense lawyer, Cllr. Bestman Juah, informed the court that the defendants had admitted responsibility for the hijacking and were requesting a plea-bargain arrangement. State prosecutors did not oppose the request, leaving open the possibility of reduced sentences in exchange for full cooperation.

Resident Judge Mameita Jabateh-Sirleaf, who presides over Criminal Court ‘D’, will rule on whether to accept the plea deal and determine the sentencing framework. The ruling could also address deportation measures following imprisonment.

Criminal Court ‘D’ handles cases involving armed robbery, terrorism, hijacking, and other serious crimes, and the piracy trial represents a growing trend of transnational offenses being prosecuted within Liberia’s judicial system.
As of press time, the court has not announced the date for sentencing.

Headline

Spain Cancels $825m Israel Arms Deal Over Gaza

Published

20 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

The Spanish government has cancelled a contract worth nearly 700 million euros ($825 million) for Israeli-designed rocket launchers.

The move comes after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced last week that his government would “consolidate in law” a ban on military equipment sales or purchases with Israel over its offensive in Gaza.

The contract, awarded to a consortium of Spanish companies, involved the purchase of 12 SILAM rocket launcher systems derived from the PULS platform made by Israeli firm Elbit Systems, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Military Balance.

First reported by local media and the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the cancellation was formalised on Spain’s official public contracts platform on September 9.

The following day, Sanchez unveiled measures aimed at stopping what his leftist government called “the genocide in Gaza”.

It includes the approval of a decree imposing a ban on military equipment sales or purchases with Israel due to its military offensive in Gaza, launched after the Hamas attacks in October 2023.

Spain applied the ban as Israel stepped up its military onslaught.

Spain has also formalized the cancellation of another contract for 168 anti-tank missile launchers, which were to be manufactured under license from an Israeli company.

That contract, valued at 287 million euros, had been first reported by the press in June.

According to Spanish daily La Vanguardia, the government is undertaking a broader review to phase out Israeli weapons and technology from its armed forces.

Sanchez has emerged as one of Europe’s most outspoken critics of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza policy.

Relations between the two countries have been tense for months.

Israel has not had an ambassador in Spain since Madrid recognized the state of Palestine in 2024.

Last week, Spain recalled its ambassador to Israel after heated exchanges over Sánchez’s new measures.

The Barcelona-based Delas Centre, a security research institute, estimated in April that since the start of the Gaza war, Spain had awarded 46 contracts worth $1.044 billion to Israeli companies, based on public tender data.