To regulate temporary residency, Canada sets a limit on study permit applications to be processed in 2025.
Canada has announced the maximum number of study permit applications that will be accepted for processing in 2025. For the rest of 2025, the Canadian government has established a limit of 505,162 study permit applications that can be processed.
The federal government limits study permit applications to reduce the issue of net new study permits, thereby capping the number of temporary residents. In the Canada Gazette, Ministerial Instructions regarding the processing of certain applications for study permits by foreign nationals within the student class were published. Effective from January 22 to December 31, 2025, this policy aims to regulate the rising number of foreign students and address matters concerning temporary residency.
Applications for study permits that fall within these Instructions and are received by the Department after the maximum number of such applications has been reached will not be processed, and any processing fees will be refunded.
This cap applies to applications from international students that have been approved for processing. This is unrelated to the number of study permits that will be issued this year.
A portion of the 550,162 applications has been allocated to the provinces and territories. Some categories of study permit applications are not subject to the conditions and application cap set by these Instructions.
- Applications for study permits must contain an attestation letter from the province or territory.
- Applications for study permits that lack a provincial or territorial attestation letter will not be processed, and any fees paid for processing will be refunded
This year, the cap does not apply to the total number of study permits to be granted; rather, it is applicable solely to applications that are accepted for processing.
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