Canada Set to Approve 292,000 Study Permits for International Students in 2024

Over 292,000 Study Permits Approved for College and Undergraduate Students

Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, recently told The Globe and Mail that approximately 292,000 study permits are available this year for international students planning to study at Canadian colleges and universities.

However, earlier in January, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a broader cap of around 360,000 study permits for international students in 2024. This announcement initially created confusion among students and institutions.

Why Canada Introduced a Study Permit Cap

To begin with, the federal government introduced this cap to control the rapid growth of Canada’s international student program. Specifically, IRCC aims to reduce approved study permits by 35% over two years.

At the same time, the government wants to strengthen oversight and improve the credibility of the system. As a result, stricter controls now apply to how many applications IRCC processes each year.

Clarification on the 292,000 vs 360,000 Figure

Later, the government clarified an important detail. Although the overall processing limit stands at around 360,000, not all study permits fall under the cap.

In fact, some permits are counted separately, which means the actual number of new permits for college and undergraduate students is about 292,000. Therefore, the higher figure includes students who are exempt from the cap.

Additionally, the Immigration Minister does not directly control how many visas are issued. Instead, IRCC controls how many applications it processes. Because some categories remain unaffected, approvals could still reach close to 360,000 in total for 2024.

Initially, the government did not clearly explain that exempt categories were included in the processing limit. Consequently, early reports led to misunderstanding.

How Canada Is Implementing the Study Permit Cap

To manage the cap effectively, IRCC has shifted responsibility to the provinces. Now, international students must submit a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) along with their acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) when applying for a study permit.

Each PAL must include:

• The student’s full name
• Date of birth
• Residential address

Moreover, the number of PALs issued to each province depends on its population. In this way, Canada ensures a fair distribution of international students across the country.

So far, British Columbia and Alberta have announced their PAL systems. In these provinces, DLIs distribute PALs once students meet eligibility requirements. Meanwhile, all other provinces must finalize their systems by March 31, 2024.

Conclusion

In summary, Canada has introduced a study permit cap to manage growth and protect the integrity of its international education system. Although IRCC initially announced a cap of 360,000 permits, the government later clarified that only about 292,000 permits apply to college and undergraduate students.

Furthermore, provinces now play a key role by issuing Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs). As this system rolls out nationwide, students should stay informed and ensure they meet both federal and provincial requirements before applying.

Get in touch with SPS Canada

Receive professional advice on any of your questions regarding Canadian immigration. get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Canada. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com

(Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).