Updated on March 18, 2025 by canadian immigration experts
The Canadian federal government has set a cap of 550,162 study permit applications to bge accepted by IRCC for processing for the remainder of 2025!
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced this new limit in ministerial instructions on January 18, 2025. The cap will be in effect from January 22 until December 31, 2025.
Essentially, IRCC will accept 550,162 study permit applications. Once the cap is reached, acceptance of applications will be frozen and the non-accepted applications will be returned to the applicants along with the refund of corresponding fees.
Important Note: the cap applies to the number of applications accepted for processing only, and NOT to the final number of approved study permits.
According to the Ministerial Instructions, provincial and territorial governments have already been allocated quotas for international students based on this processing cap. The federal government’s objective in imposing this limit is to control the issuance of net new study permits, thereby managing the growth of temporary residents in Canada.
In the following sections, we delve into the implications of this cap and provide further context on the evolving landscape of the international student program this year.
Discovering Your Options to Study in Canada
Who Is Exempt from the Processing Cap?
Under the new guidelines, several categories of study permit applicants are exempt from the cap, including:
- Applicants who renew their study permit at the same Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and at the same level of study as their current permit;
- Applicants subject to an unenforceable removal order who hold a temporary resident permit valid for at least six months;
- Applicants being sponsored by a Canadian sponsor through an in-land sponsorship;
- Protected persons who have applied for permanent residency and received an exemption order for a study permit, or family members of any of these individuals;
- Exchange students applying to a DLI in Canada;
- Applicants applying to study at a DLI administered by a federal department or agency;
- Those who have been awarded scholarships for non-Canadians administered and funded by Global Affairs Canada;
- Applicants selected to participate in the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot;
- Applicants in Canada or entering Canada under a public policy enacted by the federal immigration minister in response to a crisis or other significant pressures;
- Applicants are exempt from requiring a study permit under the Temporary Public Policy for certain Indigenous persons and their family members.
Understanding the Difference: Applications Processed vs. Applications Approved
As we said earlier, the figure of 550,162 represents the total number of study permit applications that IRCC will accept for processing, not the number that will be ultimately approved.
Since the introduction of the international student cap on January 22, 2024, IRCC has maintained a processing limit to help achieve its annual study permit approval targets.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller noted in 2024 that IRCC sets its approval goals by considering a consistent rejection rate and accounting for students already in Canada who are likely to extend their status. With these factors in mind, the department establishes a processing cap designed to meet its annual targets.
This year’s target of 550,162 applications is notably lower than last year’s figure of 606,250, when IRCC aimed to approve approximately 364,000 study permit applications.
Although IRCC has not yet disclosed the exact number of study permits it intends to approve in 2025, the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan indicates that the department hopes to welcome around 305,900 new international students each year over the next three years.
It is essential to understand that this landing target represents the number of new students arriving in Canada, not the number of approved study permits, due to the time lag between application approval and actual arrival.
If you are looking to come to Canada in 2025 under a study permit, and want to be the select few that the IRCC choose, we at Jane Katkova & Associates will help you mould the best study permit application based on our extensive expertise and 99% approval rate.
Our team prides itself on being able to give prospective students the best possible chances of coming to Canada to receive unparalleled education. Starting with mapping of your case – to assisting with preparing our clients’ best application package, submission letter outlining the merits of the application, we are there for our clients throughout the entire process. This is the modus operandi of our team.
At Jane Katkova & Associates, we are your one-stop shop for getting ahead with your goals and setting you up for success.
