Canada set to process record number of study permit applications in 2025
Canada has announced a cap on the number of study permit applications for 2025. The government will process a maximum of 505,162 applications for that year. This move aims to manage the rising number of foreign students and address issues surrounding temporary residency.
The Canadian government imposes this cap to limit the influx of temporary residents. It aims to control the number of net new study permits issued. The cap will be in effect from January 22 to December 31, 2025. The policy, published in the Canada Gazette, focuses on foreign nationals applying under the student class. This decision follows concerns about the growing number of international students.
Any applications received after the cap is reached will not be processed. The processing fees for those applications will be refunded. This policy applies only to applications for processing. It does not affect the total number of study permits granted in 2025. The cap limits the applications accepted for processing, not the actual approvals.
Canada’s provinces and territories have been given a portion of the 505,162 applications. Certain types of study permit applications are excluded from the cap and its conditions. Applicants must include a provincial or territorial attestation letter. Without this letter, the application will not be processed, and fees will be refunded.
The study permit application cap does not impact the final number of permits granted. Instead, it regulates the volume of applications that can be accepted for processing. This step helps Canada better manage the demand for study permits while addressing concerns over temporary residency and student numbers.
