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.
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 |
Total | 437,000 |
The IRCC has allocated specific numbers of study permits to each province and territory, based on factors such as past performance and future needs:
Province or territory | Expected study permits for graduate degree students | Expected study permits for remaining students requiring PAL/TAL | Total expected number of study permits to be issued to all PAL/TAL-required students |
Alberta | 3,887 | 28,773 | 32,660 |
British Columbia | 20,053 | 33,536 | 53,589 |
Manitoba | 1,224 | 8,797 | 10,021 |
New Brunswick | 1,400 | 5,030 | 6,430 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 1,456 | 3,208 | 4,664 |
Northwest Territories | 0 | 220 | 220 |
Nova Scotia | 1,954 | 6,343 | 8,297 |
Nunavut | 0 | 220 | 220 |
Ontario | 21,841 | 94,899 | 116,740 |
Prince Edward Island | 205 | 1,045 | 1,250 |
Quebec | 19,683 | 53,294 | 72,977 |
Saskatchewan | 1,578 | 7,291 | 8,869 |
Yukon | 1 | 338 | 339 |
Total | 73,282 | 242,994 | 316,276 |
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 Territory | Allocations for Graduate Students | Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students | Total Allocations |
Alberta | 5,256 | 42,082 | 47,338 |
British Columbia | 28,333 | 47,754 | 76,087 |
Manitoba | 1,980 | 16,611 | 18,591 |
New Brunswick | 3,112 | 11,673 | 14,785 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 2,648 | 6,534 | 9,182 |
Northwest Territories | 0 | 705 | 705 |
Nova Scotia | 4,191 | 14,411 | 18,602 |
Nunavut | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ontario | 32,579 | 149,011 | 181,590 |
Prince Edward Island | 391 | 2,044 | 2,435 |
Quebec | 38,786 | 123,956 | 162,742 |
Saskatchewan | 2,791 | 14,850 | 17,641 |
Yukon | 1 | 463 | 464 |
Total | 120,068 | 430,094 | 550,162 |
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:
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:
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
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