Canada Sets Cap on Study Permit Applications for 2025

Canada’s federal government has introduced a limit on the number of study permit applications for the year 2025. As per an announcement by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on January 18, the cap will restrict applications to a total of 505,162 from January 22 to December 31, 2025. The cap only applies to the processing of study permit applications, not to the number of permits that will be granted. Once the cap is met, applications will be returned without processing, and the fees will be refunded.

This move is part of the government's efforts to control the number of temporary residents in the country. The cap aims to limit the issuance of new study permits and regulate the overall influx of international students. The number is based on allocated targets for each provincial and territorial government across Canada, which will guide the processing of applications for students wishing to study in the country.

Exemptions from the Cap

Not all applicants will be subject to this cap. Several categories of applicants are exempt, including:

1. Applicants who are renewing their study permit at the same Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and at the same level of study.
2. Those who are under an unenforceable removal order, with a temporary resident permit valid for at least six months.
3. Individuals sponsored by a Canadian family member for immigration under inland sponsorship, as well as protected persons.
4. Students applying for exchange programs to a DLI in Canada.
5. Applicants whose study program is at a DLI administered by a federal department.
6. Recipients of scholarships from Global Affairs Canada.
7. Participants in the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot.
8. Applicants in Canada or those entering under a public policy enacted due to crises or pressures.

Study Permit Applications vs. Approvals

It’s important to note that the cap refers to applications that IRCC will process, not necessarily those that will be approved. While the target for processed applications is 505,162, the number of approved study permits will likely be lower. The department uses data from previous years, including rejection rates and extension requests from students already in Canada, to set this target.

The number of study permits to be approved has not been disclosed yet. However, last year, IRCC aimed to process 606,250 applications and approve around 364,000 study permits. The processing cap for 2025 is considerably lower than the previous year’s target.

The Future of International Students

The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan sets a goal of welcoming 305,900 new international students annually between 2025 and 2027. This figure represents the number of students Canada hopes to land each year, not the number of study permits approved. Due to the timing between the application and the student's arrival in Canada, the number of students landing may not correspond directly with the number of approved study permits.

The cap on study permits is part of a broader strategy to manage immigration and ensure that Canada remains a welcoming destination for international students while controlling the overall growth of temporary residents.