The 2025 Study Permit Cap for International Students Has Been Released

As previously foreshadowed, the study permit approval cap for 2025 is lower than what we saw in 2024. This year’s cap is 437,000, down 10% from the 2024 target of 485,000. 

Key Takeaway 

• For 2025, IRCC plans to issue a total of 437,000 study permits, down 10% from the 2024 target of 485,000. 
• Starting January 24, 2025, master’s and doctoral students as well as in- Canada applicants who will have to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter and be subject to the cap. 
• Exchange students who are studying for a period in Canada while enrolled at a school outside of Canada are exempt from the cap, so Canadian students can continue to enjoy study abroad options  

How Many Study Permits will be issued in 2025? 

The 2025 cap plans to issue 437,000 study permits in 2025, broken down to the following groups: 

• Study permits issued to graduate degree students: 73,282
• Study permits issued to kindergarten to grade 12 applicants (PAL/TAL-exempt): 72,200
• Study permits issued to all other PAL/TAL-exempt applicants: 48,524
• Study permits issued to remaining PAL/TAL-required cohorts: 242,994
• Total: 437,000

An important note to remember about these targets is that the figure covers new international students, as well as existing students who are looking to move to a different institution to study or who are applying for a different level of program (ie. A Bachelor’s student applying to study a Master’s program next academic year). It does not include study permit renewals.  

What is a Provincial/ Territorial Attestation Letter?  

A PAL/TAL is a document issued by the province or territory where an international student plans to study. It confirms the student’s acceptance by a designated learning institution (DLI) and is required for most study permit applications under Canada’s international student cap. 

The following groups are exempt from submitting a PAL/TAL: 

• Primary and secondary (kindergarten to grade 12) students  
• Certain Government of Canada priority groups and vulnerable cohorts  
• Existing study permit holders applying for an extension at the same designated learning institution (DLI) and at the same level of study. 

The purpose of the PAL is to ensure that the number of international students in Canada is managed effectively, with specific allocations set for each province and territory. 

How Is the New Study Permit Target Cap Distributed Amongst Provinces? 

Over 120,000 study permit spots are reserved for PAL-exempt students, leaving 316,000 PAL/TAL required spots to be distributed among the provinces/territories. Of the 316,000 remaining spots, 73,462 are reserved for students studying at the Graduate level.  

Below is a breakdown of the 2025 target study permits for students who require a PAL/TAL to study in Canada:

Alberta
Graduate degree students: 3,887
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 28,773
Total: 32,660

British Columbia
Graduate degree students: 20,053
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 33,536
Total: 53,589

Manitoba
Graduate degree students: 1,224
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 8,797
Total: 10,021

New Brunswick
Graduate degree students: 1,400
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 5,030
Total: 6,430

Newfoundland and Labrador
Graduate degree students: 1,456
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 3,208
Total: 4,664

Northwest Territories
Graduate degree students: 0
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 220
Total: 220

Nova Scotia
Graduate degree students: 1,954
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 6,343
Total: 8,297

Nunavut
Graduate degree students: 0
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 220
Total: 220

Ontario
Graduate degree students: 21,841
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 94,899
Total: 116,740

Prince Edward Island
Graduate degree students: 205
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 1,045
Total: 1,250

Quebec
Graduate degree students: 19,683
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 53,294
Total: 72,977

Saskatchewan
Graduate degree students: 1,578
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 7,291
Total: 8,869

Yukon
Graduate degree students: 1
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 338
Total: 339

Overall Total
Graduate degree students: 73,282
Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 242,994
Grand Total: 316,276.

As you can see, Ontario has by far the largest allocation for international students in 2025. However, the allocation is smaller than its 2024 target, which Ontario says was  141,000 – with masters and doctoral students exempt.  

Quebec, BC, and Alberta also saw relatively large targets compared to Canada’s other provinces and territories.  

PAL/TAL Allocations in 2025 

The number of PALs/TALs Canada’s institutions can share with students is higher than its total target, because study permits are often rejected. So, for Canada to reach its study permit targets, the provinces and territories will need to generate more PALs/TALs than the target number of approved applications.  

That is to say:– For Canada to reach 316,276 PAL/TAL-supported international student approvals in 2025,  it will need to see around 550,162 study permit applications that require a PAL/TAL. It’s expected that 233,886 study permit applications would be rejected in 2025 if the target volume of applications is reached. That’s an approval rate of 57%, which is what’s generally expected in the study permit context.  

Here’s how many PALs/TALS each province and territory has been allocated for 2025:

Alberta
Allocations for Graduate Students: 5,256
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 42,082
Total Allocations: 47,338

British Columbia
Allocations for Graduate Students: 28,333
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 47,754
Total Allocations: 76,087

Manitoba
Allocations for Graduate Students: 1,980
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 16,611
Total Allocations: 18,591

New Brunswick
Allocations for Graduate Students: 3,112
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 11,673
Total Allocations: 14,785

Newfoundland and Labrador
Allocations for Graduate Students: 2,648
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 6,534
Total Allocations: 9,182

Northwest Territories
Allocations for Graduate Students: 0
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 705
Total Allocations: 705

Nova Scotia
Allocations for Graduate Students: 4,191
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 14,411
Total Allocations: 18,602

Nunavut
Allocations for Graduate Students: 0
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 0
Total Allocations: 0

Ontario
Allocations for Graduate Students: 32,579
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 149,011
Total Allocations: 181,590

Prince Edward Island
Allocations for Graduate Students: 391
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 2,044
Total Allocations: 2,435

Quebec
Allocations for Graduate Students: 38,786
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 123,956
Total Allocations: 162,742

Saskatchewan
Allocations for Graduate Students: 2,791
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 14,850
Total Allocations: 17,641

Yukon
Allocations for Graduate Students: 1
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 463
Total Allocations: 464

Overall Totals
Allocations for Graduate Students: 120,068
Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students: 430,094
Grand Total Allocations: 550,162 

Improve Your Chances of Study Permit Approval 

We dug into the approval rates a little more deeply, and here’s what we discovered: 

Alberta
Approval of Grad: 73.95%
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: 68.37%

British Columbia
Approval of Grad: 70.78%
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: 70.23%

Manitoba
Approval of Grad: 61.82%
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: 52.96%

New Brunswick
Approval of Grad: 44.99%
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: 43.09%

Newfoundland and Labrador
Approval of Grad: 54.98%
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: 49.10%

Northwest Territories
Approval of Grad: –
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: 31.21%

Nova Scotia
Approval of Grad: 46.62%
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: 44.01%

Nunavut
Approval of Grad: –
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: –

Ontario
Approval of Grad: 67.04%
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: 63.69%

Prince Edward Island
Approval of Grad: 52.43%
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: 51.13%

Quebec
Approval of Grad: 50.75%
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: 42.99%

Saskatchewan
Approval of Grad: 56.54%
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: 49.10%

Yukon
Approval of Grad: 100.00%
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: 73.00%

Overall Total
Approval of Grad: 61.03%
Approval rate for Other PAL/TAL required students: 56.50% 

This data doesn’t tell us directly whether it’s a good idea to apply to any particular province or territory. However, the provinces with lower approval rates will have more PAL/TALs available for the same approved study permit target. This may mean that you have a higher chance of receiving a PAL/TAL from that province compared to others with higher approval rates – depending on your chosen field of study and that province’s particular policies towards PAL/TAL allocation.  

What’s the Difference Between the Study Permit Cap and the Study Permit Annual Targets? 

In 2024, for the first time, IRCC introduced an immigration levels plan for temporary residents, including students. This plan set a target of welcoming 305,900 international students to Canada in 2025. But how does this align with the total 2025 allocation of 550,162? 

The allocation numbers refer to the study permit applications accepted for processing, while the targets represent the total number of new international students expected to arrive in Canada. Only a portion of the study permits processed in 2025 will count toward the overall 2025 target. For example, study permits processed in 2025 for students starting their studies in 2026 will not count toward the 2025 target, but will still be part of the total allocation for the year. 

Tips For Applying For a PAL/TAL and Study Permit in 2025 

Tip 1: Apply as early as you can.  

An early application can help you succeed in 2025 due to two factors: 

1. Applying early for your PAL/TAL reduces the risk that the allocation for your chosen institution or province is already exhausted.  

Tip 2: Plan to study at a public institution.  

Ontario’s government noted that publicly assisted colleges and universities will receive 96% of the allocations, with 4% going to language schools, private universities and other institutions. Career colleges will not receive any allocation of PALs for 2025.

While this doesn’t mean that all provinces will follow suit, it’s likely that applying to a public institution will increase your odds of receiving a PAL/TAL and hopefully your odds of approval for your study permit.  

Tip 3: Plan to actually attend school if you apply for a study permit. 

Canada’s immigration department has been paying more attention to international student attendance. In fact, it started requiring institutions to report on attendance from November 2024.  

Based on initial reporting, estimates note that there are around 50,000 international students in Canada who are not attending classes at their designated learning institutions. We predict that 2025 will come with the introduction of some mechanism that ties international student study permits to class attendance. This may be in the form of study permit renewals not being offered to students with poor attendance.  

While this is just a prediction at this point, we would suggest that students coming to Canada plan for these changes – given the high cost of moving to Canada and dwindling post-graduate work permit opportunities for students.