New Canada Study Permit Allocations for 2025 Revealed by IRCC

Canada, a dream destination and the topmost choice for international students, changes its immigration rules frequently. Explore Canada Study Permit Allocations 2025 by IRCC. Find key updates, provincial quotas, and exemptions to plan your study abroad journey. There is a latest change made in study permit allocations for 2025, has been revealed by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Why this change?

IRCC has made significant changes to prepare the international students in a better way to live in Canada, strengthen our programs, and address the changing needs of Canada.

In 2024, IRCC capped the number of study permit applications, which has lessened the number of international students in Canada by around 40% and also eased pressures in rental markets with high student populations in Canada.

Now in 2025, IRCC is planning to issue 437,000 study permits in total, which shows a 10% decrease from the 2024 cap.

Moreover, most applicants for study permit submit a provincial attestation letter or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL), now this requirement now extends to master’s and doctoral students, as well as most applicants applying from within Canada.

As of 2025, these exemptions may apply to:

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 breakdown of study permits for 2025 by student cohort is as follows:

2025 National Target

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

Provincial and Territorial Allocations

Each province and territory has received specific allocations based on past performance and expected needs:

Ontario: With the highest allocation, Ontario is set to issue 116,740 permits to students requiring PAL/TAL, reflecting its large educational infrastructure.
British Columbia: Known for its attractive educational institutions, BC will see 53,589 permits issued.
Quebec: With a significant French-speaking student population, Quebec’s allocation stands at 72,977.

Province or Territory	Expected study permits-Graduate degree students	Expected study permits-Remaining PAL/TAL-required cohorts	Expected number of study permits to be issued to all PAL/TAL-required cohorts
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

Based on the average approval rate for each province and territory from 2023 and 2024, these allocations should result in the targeted number of study permits issued for capped cohorts:

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

Each province’s and each territory’s 2025 graduate student sub-allocation is based on the number of study permits that they respectively issued to graduate students in 2023.