The maximum number of study permit applications to be accepted for processing in 2025 has been made public by Canada. The Canadian government has set a ceiling of 505,162 study permit applications to be accepted for processing for the remainder of 2025.
To limit the number of temporary residents, the federal government caps study permit applications to minimize the issue of net new study permits. Ministerial Instructions for the processing of certain applications for a study permit made by a foreign national as a member of the student class were published in the Canada Gazette. This policy, which will be in place from January 22 to December 31, 2025, attempts to control the increasing number of foreign students and deal with issues related to temporary residency.
Study permit applications that are within the scope of these Instructions received by the Department after the maximum number of study permit applications has been reached will not be accepted for processing, and processing fees will be refunded.
Applications that are approved for processing from international students are subject to this cap. It has nothing to do with how many study permits will be granted this year.
The provinces and territories have been allocated a portion of the 550,162 applications. Certain categories of study permit applications are excluded from the conditions and the associated application cap established by these Instructions.
Study permit applications must include a provincial or territorial attestation letter. The study permit applications that do not include a provincial or territorial attestation letter will not be accepted for processing and processing fees will be returned.
The cap does not apply to the total number of study permits that will be granted this year; rather, it only applies to applications that are accepted for processing.