Canada reveals the breakdown of study permit allocation, outlining how many international students each province will welcome. The nation has also shared further details on the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) requirement.
According to the federal government, 437,000 study permits are projected to be issued in 2025.
Thus, to help implement this cap, IRCC introduced Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs).
Today, the department released a more detailed breakdown of how study permits will be issued in 2025, breaking it down according to student categories and those that require PALs.
| Study Permits Issued To International Student In 2025 | |
| Graduate Degree Students | 73,282 |
| Kindergarten To Grade 12 Applicants | 72,200 |
| All Other PAL/ TAL-Exempt Applicants | 48,524 |
| Remaining PAL/ TAL-Required Cohorts | 242,994 |
| Total | 437,000 |
As seen above, the total number of study permits issued to graduate degree students will be 73,282. This includes those students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree.
Moreover, that means IRCC has reserved 16.77% of all study permits being issued in 2025 to graduate degree students.
Note: On September 18, 2024, the government declared that it would be reserving approximately 12% of allocation spaces for master’s and doctoral students.
That leaves 242,994 expected study permits to be issued to other students requiring PALs. This would include post-secondary study permit applicants or those studying in non-degree granting graduate programs.
Provincial And Territorial Breakdown
Canada reveals the breakdown of study permit allocation. IRCC has broken down the total number of study permits it expects to be issued for students requiring PAL or TAL in 2025.
| Province/ Territory | Expected Study Permits For Graduate Degree Students | Expected Study Permits For Remaining Students Requiring PAL/ TAL | Total Expected Number Of Study Permits To Be Issued To All PAL/ TAL-Required Students |
| 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 | 3,280 | 4,664 |
| Northwest Territories | 0 | 220 | 220 |
| Nova Scotia | 1,954 | 6,434 | 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 |
The department has also gone one step further by sharing the maximum number of study permit applications that will be processed per province or territory for students required to submit a PAL or TAL with their study permit application.
So, this implies that IRCC will process a maximum of 550,162 study permit applications for students.
Moreover, the department expects the allocations to result in the targeted number of study permits issued as per the caps. It is based on the average approval rate for each province and territory in 2023 and 2024.
| Province/ 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 |
New PAL Requirement Implemented
On September 18, 2024, IRCC declared that master’s and doctoral students will be required to submit PAL letters.
Moreover, the department has confirmed that this new requirement is in effect from January 24, 2025.
It also announced a new exemption: Exchange students will join the group that does not need to submit a PAL/ TAL.
Also, other groups exempted from PAL or TAL requirements include:
- Primary and secondary students
- Certain Government of Canada priority groups and vulnerable cohorts
- Existing study permit holders applying for an extension at the same designated learning institution and at the same level of study
Background
Canada reveals the breakdown of study permit allocation. The cap on study permit applications supports the federal government’s objective to reduce the number of temporary residents.
The most recent Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027 was the first to include targets for temporary resident levels. It includes new net study permit holders and net new work permit holders under the International Mobility Program (IMP).
Also, the cap on study permit applications helps support the target of 305,900 arrivals for students in 2025.
Moreover, the lowered target of admissions for international students, along with new restrictions on families for Post Graduation Work Permit will contribute to a planned reduction in arrivals of foreign nationals under the IMP.
The target for admissions under the IMP is 285,750 for 2025 but only 128,700 for 2026.
Note: Immigration levels for 2026 are notional targets and might be adjusted in the next Immigration Levels Plan.
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