24/01/2025
The Canadian government has set a cap of 505,162 study permit applications for the rest of 2025.👇
This was announced on January 18, 2025, this limit applies from January 22 to December 31. Applications will only be processed until the cap is reached. Any submitted afterward will be returned, and your fees will be refunded.
This cap affects the number of applications processed, not the number of permits approved. Provinces and territories have been allocated quotas within this limit to manage international students.
The goal is to manage the increase in temporary residents while balancing demand for study permits.
Who Is Exempt from the Study Permit Processing Cap?
The following applicants are exempt from the 2025 study permit processing cap:
👉Those renewing their study permit for the same institution (DLI) and level of study.
👉Individuals under an unenforceable removal order with a valid temporary resident permit (at least one under in-land sponsorship.
👉Applicants who are sponsored by a Canadian loved one under in-land sponsorship.
👉 Applicants who are protected persons.
👉 Have applied for permanent residency and received a study permit exemption.
👉 Exchange students applying to study at a Canadian DLI.
👉 Those studying at DLIs managed by a federal department or agency.
👉 Scholarship recipients funded by Global Affairs Canada.
👉 Participants in the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot.
👉 Applicants under a federal public policy addressing crises or pressures.
👉Indigenous persons exempt under the Temporary Public Policy for Indigenous applicants.
Processed vs. Approved Applications👇
The 505,162 cap refers to the total applications IRCC will process, not the number of approved permits. This limit manages application intake, starting January 22, 2025, but does not guarantee approval for all processed applications.
In 2024, IRCC said that study permit approval goals are set by factoring in a consistent rejection rate and the likelihood of current students extending their status based on past trends. These considerations help determine a processing cap to meet the approval target.
This year, the processing cap is 505,162 applications, which is lower than the 606,250 applications processed in 2024, when the approval target was 364,000 study permits. IRCC has yet to announce the approval goal for 2025.
The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan is expected to welcome 305,900 new international students annually between 2025 and 2027. However, this figure reflects the number of students arriving in Canada, not the number of approved study permits. Since there’s often a delay between study permit approvals and students arriving to start their studies, these numbers differ.
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