Canada is inviting 505,162 students in 2025

Highlights: Canada to invite 505,162 students in 2025

• IRCC has released the study permit applications cap for 2025.
• Canada aims to invite 505,162 international students for the rest of 2025.
• The changes were effective from January 22 till December 31, 2025.
• Applicants, including Temporary resident permit holders and those looking to renew their study permit at the same DLI, are exempted from the study permit cap.
   

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IRCC Releases the Study Permit Cap for 2025

IRCC has announced that it will invite nearly 505,162 international students under the new cap. The cap will be effective for the rest of 2025, starting January 22. Study permit applications will be processed until the cap is met, after which no new applications will be approved. The Canadian territorial and provincial governments have already distributed allocations based on the study permit cap.  
 

Note: The cap released by the IRCC applies only to applications currently accepted for processing and does not include the total number of study permits that are to be approved this year.
 

Who is exempted from the Processing cap?

Canada study permit applicants listed below are exempted from the processing cap:

• Candidates looking to renew their study permit at the same DLI and study level.
• Candidates with an unenforceable removal order and possess a temporary resident permit with a minimum validity of 6 months.
• Candidates who are applying as an exchange student at a Canadian DLI
• Candidates who are applying to study at a Federal agency or department-administered Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
• Candidates with scholarships for non-Canadians funded and administered by Global Affairs Canada.
• Candidates selected to take part in the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot.
• Candidates who are currently in Canada or looking to enter the country under public policy provisions as a response to certain pressure or crisis
• Candidates who do not require a study permit as per the temporary Public Policy to exempt specific Indigenous people and their families from meeting the requirements for temporary residence.
• Candidates who are:

a) Protected persons

b) Have sponsorship from a Canadian family member under the in-land sponsorship

c) Have applied for Canada PR and have a study permit exemption order

d) Are a family member of any of the above-listed people
 

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Difference between Study Permit Applications that are processed vs. Approved

The newly announced cap of 505,162 will represent the total study permit applications that will be considered by the IRCC and not the study permit applications that are to be accepted or approved. With this move, the IRCC aims to limit the increased number of temporary residence applicants and the issuance of study permit applications.

 

According to a statement released by Marc Miller last year, IRCC is looking to set a goal for Study permit approvals. The goal is determined by considering the overall study permit rejection rate and the students in Canada who are currently looking to extend or renew their status. The IRCC now sets a processing cap within which the department will look to meet the approval target for next year.
 

IRCC has yet to release the number of study permit applications approved in 2025. According to the Immigration Levels Plan of 2025-27, Canada aims to invite 305,900 new students every year from 2025-2027. However, this count is not the number of approved study permits.
 

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