Examine Canada’s immigration goals, PAL requirements, and study permit allotments for 2025. Find out how the IRCC intends to efficiently handle the influx of international students.
Important Aspects of the Study Permit Distributions
Estimated Issuances of Study Permits
The province distribution of Canada’s 2025 study permit distribution has been made public. In comparison to 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) anticipates issuing 437,000 study permits, a 10% decrease.
This comprises:
- Graduate degree students: 73,282 permits (16.77% of total permits).
- PAL/TAL-exempt kindergarten to grade 12 applicants: 72,200 permits.
- Other PAL/TAL-exempt categories: 48,524 permits.
- Remaining PAL/TAL-required students: 242,994 permits.
Division by Territories and Provinces
Graduate Student Study Permits and PAL/TAL-Required Categories
| Province/Territory | Graduate Degree Students | Other PAL/TAL-Required Students | Total Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 21,841 | 94,899 | 116,740 |
| British Columbia | 20,053 | 33,536 | 53,589 |
| Quebec | 19,683 | 53,294 | 72,977 |
| Alberta | 3,887 | 28,773 | 32,660 |
The allotments for other provinces, like Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia, represent their individual capacities to house international students.
Maximum Allotments for Applications for Study Permits
- The maximum number of applications that the IRCC will accept for students in need of PAL/TAL has also been disclosed:
- 550,162 applications were allotted.
With the largest allotments, provinces like Ontario and Quebec make sure they reach their target student intake.
Updated PAL Requirements
Master’s and doctoral students will need to provide a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) with their study permission application as of January 24, 2025. This adjustment, which was previously excluded, attempts to standardize procedures for all student categories.
PAL/TAL Requirements Exemptions:
pupils in elementary and secondary education (Kindergarten through Grade 12).
certain vulnerable demographics and priority groups of the Government of Canada.
holders of current study permits requesting renewals at the same study level and DLI.
Students on exchange (new exemption).
The study permit cap is in line with Canada’s temporary resident population control plan, which aims to lower the country’s overall foreign-born population percentage.
- The 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan aims to:
- In 2025, 305,900 foreign students will arrive.128,700 fewer people arrived in 2026 as a result of the International Mobility Program on PGWPs and family open work permits.
These steps help balance Canada’s immigration system by supplementing stricter rules