IRCC Releases Allocation of Study Permits for Canadian Provinces

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled the distribution of study permits across all Canadian provinces. In a recent statement, the department outlined the methodology used to determine the final allocation of study permits for 2024.

This announcement follows the department's decision on January 22 to implement a cap on the processing of study permit applications annually. IRCC clarified that each province would be granted a specific number of study permits for issuance to international students, with allocation based on provincial populations.

Distribution Strategy

Provinces and territories received their allotment of study permit applications proportionate to their populations. IRCC acknowledged that without adjustments, some regions would see an increase in international students for 2024 compared to 2023, while others would see a decrease. To mitigate adverse effects, IRCC capped allocations for provinces receiving fewer permits and limited increases to 10% of their population.

Allocations by Province

Ontario received the largest allocation, with 235,000 study permits, reflecting its status as Canada's most populous province. Despite having 530 designated learning institutions (DLIs), 96% of Ontario's permits will be allocated to public universities and colleges, limiting opportunities for international students in private institutions.

Other provinces also received substantial allocations. Quebec, after adjustments, secured 117,917 study permits, while British Columbia announced an allocation of 83,000 study permits in March, with nearly equal distribution between public and private institutions.

Specific Province Adjustments

Alberta, home to 11.67% of Canada's population, had its allocation capped at 10%, resulting in 40,894 study permits. Nova Scotia, initially allocated 12,900 study permits, received a top-up of 7,472 permits, bringing its total allocation to 20,378 study permits, according to IRCC's latest data. The ultimate allocation for every province and territory is as follows:

IRCC imposes limits on permits processed, not permits issued

The restriction on the processing of study permits and the limit on the issuance of study permits by IRCC are distinct. In recent weeks, the immigration minister clarified that IRCC lacks the authority to restrict the number of granted study permits.

However, the department can set a cap on the volume of study permit applications processed. Thus, by establishing the cap for study permits based on a national approval rate of 60%, IRCC indicates that the projected cap for issued study permits is determined by the quantity of study permit applications it intends to process. In this case, the department plans to process 606,000 applications.

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