Study Permit Attestation and One-Year Cap

Summary#

The federal government issued Ministerial Instructions that require most new study permit applications to include a provincial attestation letter and limit how many such applications will be accepted for processing to 606 250 for one year starting on January 22, 2024. Applications received without the attestation letter or after the cap is reached will not be accepted for processing and fees will be returned.

What it does#

• Requires a provincial attestation letter with any study permit application that falls under the student class covered by these Instructions. The letter must be from the provincial or territorial government and confirm the applicant “has a space within the provincial or territorial allocation” and include the applicant’s full name, date of birth and address.
• Sets a processing cap of 606 250 study permit applications to be accepted for processing for one year beginning on the date of signature.
• Says applications in this group received after the cap is reached will not be accepted and processing fees will be returned.
• Lists exceptions: the Instructions do not apply to applications referenced in subsections 215(1) or 215(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, nor to applicants planning to study at the primary or secondary school level, nor to applicants planning to study in a master’s or doctorate program.
• Notes the maximum number may be changed by later Instructions from the Minister.

Who's affected#

• Most foreign nationals applying for a Canadian study permit as members of the student class — especially those seeking entry under the categories covered by these Instructions.
• Applicants planning to study at the primary/secondary level or in a master’s or doctorate program are explicitly excluded.
• Provincial and territorial governments, which must issue the attestation letters that applicants need.
• The federal department that processes study permits, which will return fees for applications that lack the attestation or arrive after the cap is reached.

Why it matters#

• It creates an extra step for many international students: you must get a provincial or territorial attestation before your study permit application will even be accepted for processing.
• It places a hard cap (606 250) on the number of applications accepted for one year, which could delay or prevent some people from moving forward if demand exceeds that number.
• It gives provinces and territories a direct role in controlling how many study permit applications they will allow into federal processing, but the Instructions do not explain how provinces will allocate those spaces — that detail is unclear in the notice.
• If you apply without the required attestation, or after the cap is reached, your application won’t be processed and your application fees will be returned.