IRCC Announces Canada Study Permit Plans for 2025

By Eva Olsen [Published 25 Jan, 2025 | 05:07 AM] 1023
IRCC Announces Canada Study Permit Plans for 2025

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced key changes to Canada’s international student policy for 2025, implementing new caps and regulations designed to better manage the international students.

These adjustments come after a series of policy shifts aimed at addressing the strain on Canadian resources, including housing and healthcare, caused by rising international student numbers. It will affect those who wish to study in Canada.

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Canada’s New 2025 Cap on Study Permits

The IRCC has set a cap of 437,000 study permits, a 10% reduction from the previous year’s allocation. This move follows the 2024 introduction of a cap that reduced international student applications by approximately 40%. The 2025 cap aims to manage the demand on public services and ensure that educational standards are maintained despite the high volume of international students.

The breakdown of study permits for 2025 is as follows:

Study permits issued to international student in 2025
Graduate degree students 73,282
Kindergarten to grade 12 applicants (PAL/TAL-exempt) 72,200
All other PAL/TAL-exempt applicants 48,524
Remaining PAL/TAL-required cohorts 242,994
Total437,000

Provincial and Territorial Allocations

The IRCC has allocated specific numbers of study permits to each province and territory, based on factors such as past performance and future needs:

  • Ontario will issue the highest number of permits, with 116,740 allocated to students requiring PAL/TAL.
  • British Columbia, known for its strong educational institutions, will receive 53,589 permits.
  • Quebec, with its large French-speaking student body, will see 72,977 permits issued.

Province or territoryExpected study permits for graduate degree studentsExpected study permits for remaining students requiring PAL/TALTotal expected number of study permits to be issued to all PAL/TAL-required students
Alberta 3,88728,77332,660
British Columbia 20,05333,53653,589
Manitoba 1,2248,79710,021
New Brunswick 1,4005,0306,430
Newfoundland and Labrador1,4563,2084,664
Northwest Territories0220220
Nova Scotia1,9546,3438,297
Nunavut0220220
Ontario21,84194,899116,740
Prince Edward Island2051,0451,250
Quebec19,68353,29472,977
Saskatchewan1,5787,2918,869
Yukon1338339
Total73,282242,994316,276

In an effort to provide more transparency, the department has revealed the maximum number of study permit applications that will be processed by province or territory for students who must submit a PAL or TAL with their application. The department anticipates that these allocations will align with the target number of permits issued.

The table below shows the average approval rates for each province and territory in 2023 and 2024:-

Province or TerritoryAllocations for Graduate StudentsAllocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required StudentsTotal Allocations
Alberta 5,25642,08247,338
British Columbia 28,33347,75476,087
Manitoba 1,98016,61118,591
New Brunswick 3,11211,67314,785
Newfoundland and Labrador2,6486,5349,182
Northwest Territories0705705
Nova Scotia4,19114,41118,602
Nunavut000
Ontario32,579149,011181,590
Prince Edward Island3912,0442,435
Quebec38,786123,956162,742
Saskatchewan2,79114,85017,641
Yukon1463464
Total120,068430,094550,162

New Requirements and Exemptions

Starting in 2025, graduate students (master’s and doctoral) will also be required to submit a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) with their study permit applications. However, several groups are exempt from this requirement, including:

  • Primary and secondary (K-12) students
  • Certain government priority groups
  • Students renewing their study permits at the same institution and level

Impact of the Changes

The changes will have wide-reaching effects on Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs), which will need to comply with stricter regulations around student reporting and verification of letters of acceptance. Failure to comply could lead to sanctions, potentially affecting an institution’s ability to attract international students.

The new cap has sparked mixed reactions:

  • Students and Prospective Applicants: Many express concerns over the competitiveness of securing a study permit, which could discourage potential international talent.
  • Local Communities: While some communities may see relief in terms of reduced strain on public services, there are fears of economic impacts from decreased student spending.
  • Educational Institutions: Schools are adapting by focusing on quality over quantity, seeking to prioritize sustainable growth in international education.

Canada’s cap on international students for 2025 marks a significant shift in policy aimed at balancing immigration, education, and resource management.

As the year progresses, it will be important to observe how these changes unfold and affect Canada study visa process, institutions, and communities across the country.

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Source: canada.ca

Tags: Canada Study Permit Study Permit Plans 2025 Study in Canada Study Permits Canada study visa process Canada Immigration News international students


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