CIMM – Study Permit Application Caps – November 25, 2024

Key Facts and Figures

• For 2025, the target number of study permits issued is based on a 10% reduction from the 2024 target – from 485,000 to 437,000 study permits issued – in alignment with our commitment to reduce temporary resident volumes to 5% of Canada’s total population by the end of 2026. Allocations for provinces and territories are currently being finalized.

Key Messages

• Early signs indicate that the cap is effectively reining in international student volumes and recent reports also show that rent prices are decreasing in some certain university towns.
• However, further reductions are necessary to ensure that the International Student Program remains sustainable and to meet the commitment announced in March 2024 to decrease Canada’s temporary resident population to 5% of Canada’s total population by end of 2026.
• Integrating temporary residents into our broader immigration levels is critical to supporting sustainable population growth as we respond to the changing demands of the labour market and work to strengthen alignment between immigration planning and community capacity.
• With this in mind, the national cap for 2025 will be set at 437,000 study permits issued based on a 10% reduction from 2024 targets, and it will stabilize at the same level for 2026.
• Master’s and doctoral degree students will now be subject to the cap, but we will be reserving about 12% of allocation spaces for these students in recognition of the benefits they bring to the Canadian labour market.
• Further details on the 2025 allocations to provinces and territories are forthcoming.