Study Permit Cap and Attestation 2025

Summary#

These are ministerial instructions from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that change how many study permit applications will be accepted in 2025. Starting January 22, 2025 at 12:00 A.M. EST, most new study permit applications will need a provincial or territorial attestation letter, and only up to 550 162 such applications will be accepted between January 22, 2025 and December 31, 2025.

What it does#

• Requires that study permit applications filed on or after January 22, 2025 at 12:00 A.M. EST include a provincial or territorial attestation letter. The letter must show the applicant has a space within that province’s or territory’s allocation and include the applicant’s full name, date of birth, and address.
• Sets a processing cap of 550 162 study permit applications for the period January 22, 2025 at 12:00 A.M. EST to December 31, 2025 at 11:59 P.M. EST. Applications within scope received after the cap is reached will not be accepted and fees will be returned.
• Keeps the number of applications accepted between January 1, 2025 and January 21, 2025 at 11:59 P.M. EST to the remaining space allowed under earlier instructions (MI79).
• Lists several categories that are exempt from the attestation and cap rules, including:
  • renewals at the same school and same level of study,
  • exchange students,
  • applicants at the primary or secondary school level,
  • students at certain designated institutions and scholarship recipients funded by Global Affairs Canada,
  • participants in the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot,
  • people covered by specific public policies tied to crisis migration or Indigenous exemptions.
• Notes that provinces and territories received an allocation of the 550 162 applications; the Minister communicated those shares to them.
• Takes effect on January 22, 2025 at 12:00 A.M. EST and expires on December 31, 2025 at 11:59 P.M. EST. The cap may be changed later if the Minister issues further instructions.

Who's affected#

• People applying for a new study permit in 2025 — especially those applying on or after January 22, 2025.
• Provinces and territories, because they must issue the attestation letters and were given shares of the available applications.
• Colleges, universities and other designated learning institutions that recruit international students — they may need to manage offers and admissions to match provincial allocations.
• Immigration advisers, recruiters, and employer/sponsor groups who help students with applications.
• Some groups are not affected (see exemptions above), including exchange students, most primary/secondary applicants, and certain scholarship or pilot-program recipients.

Why it matters#

• This limits how many international students can have their study permit application accepted for processing in 2025. Once a province’s or the national cap is filled, more applications won’t be taken and filing fees will be returned.
• It shifts a practical gatekeeping step to provinces and territories. Applicants now need a provincial/territorial attestation before their application will be processed. That can change timing and how schools recruit abroad.
• For applicants, missing the attestation or applying after a cap is reached could mean delays or having to reapply another year.
• The measure is temporary for 2025 and could be adjusted by the Minister later. If anything in the source is unclear about specific allocations or how provinces will issue letters, the document says those details were communicated to provinces and territories by the Minister.