Afghan Teen Denied Canadian Study Permit Despite Full Scholarship
An 18-year-old Afghan woman was denied a Canadian study permit by IRCC despite holding a full scholarship to a British Columbia boarding school. Advocacy groups report a broader pattern of rejections for Afghan women and girls with funded scholarships, raising concerns about automated assessments and the government's review process.
An 18-year-old Afghan teenager from Kabul was denied a Canadian study permit in July by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), despite securing a full two-year scholarship to a private boarding school in British Columbia through the non-profit Women Leaders of Tomorrow (WLOT). 
The denial cited an inability to pay tuition and living costs, as well as doubts about her intention to return to Afghanistan. However, the scholarship granted by the B.C. school covers tuition, school supplies, room and board, and personal expenses, directly contradicting IRCC's claim of insufficient funds. The rejection prevents the teen from accessing education she was banned from receiving in Afghanistan under the Taliban.
This case reflects a wider trend affecting multiple Afghan women and girls facing barriers to Canadian education despite holding full scholarships. Of three Afghan teens selected for WLOT's program this year, two have been denied study permits and one remains in limbo. In 2024, the advocacy group For The Refugees also had two women denied study permits, including one who held a $75,000 scholarship to Wilfrid Laurier University.
In 2022, Parliament’s special committee on Afghanistan recommended that the federal government issue study permits for Afghans with full Canadian scholarships without assessing their intention to return to their country of origin. IRCC's continued reliance on return-intent concerns conflicts with this recommendation.
Immigration lawyer Gabrielle Thiboutot suggests IRCC may use automated software called Chinook to assess applications, which could miss pertinent information like scholarships. 
For The Refugees has successfully challenged denied applications in federal court by arguing that Canadian diplomas provide global opportunities even if students do not return to Afghanistan. However, advocacy groups face financial constraints in pursuing long-term legal battles against IRCC decisions.