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.
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