Study Permit Attestation and 606,250 Cap

Summary#

These are new Ministerial Instructions with respect to the processing of certain applications for a study permit made by a foreign national as a member of the student class, issued by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. They require a provincial or territorial attestation letter for most new study-permit applications in scope and set a cap of 606,250 applications accepted for processing during a one-year period starting January 22, 2024, at 8:30 Eastern standard time (EST). The Instructions take effect August 26, 2024.

What it does#

• Requires a provincial or territorial attestation letter from the province or territory where the applicant intends to study for any new study-permit application that falls within the Instructions’ scope.
• Limits the number of such study-permit applications accepted for processing to 606,250 for the one-year period beginning January 22, 2024, at 8:30 EST.
• Says applications received at or after January 22, 2024, at 8:30 EST that do not include a required attestation letter will not be accepted and processing fees will be returned.
• Notes that provinces and territories were given shares of the 606,250 cap (set out in a Ministerial Statement on April 5, 2024).
• Keeps several categories of applications outside these limits and requirements (examples below).
• Replaces earlier Instructions with the same title published on July 6, 2024.
• Says the one-year maximum may be changed later by further instructions from the Minister.

Excluded categories (examples):

• People who already held student status and are covered by certain regulatory rules about status changes.
• Applicants planning to study at the primary or secondary level.
• Applicants planning to study in a graduate degree program at the master’s or doctoral level.
• Recipients of scholarships for non‑Canadians administered and funded by Global Affairs Canada.
• Those selected by their school for the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot.
• Some applicants connected to the International Experience Canada program and certain other regulatory exceptions.

Who's affected#

• People outside Canada applying for a study permit as members of the student class (international students) whose applications fall within the Instructions’ scope.
• Provincial and territorial governments, because they must issue the attestation letters and work within their allocated share of the cap.
• Designated learning institutions and agents who help international applicants, because applicants will need attestation before their applications are accepted.
• Applicants in the listed excluded categories are generally not affected by these attestation and cap rules.

Why it matters#

• If you plan to apply for a Canadian study permit and your application is covered by these Instructions, you now need an attestation from the province or territory where you plan to study before your application will be accepted.
• There is a fixed limit (606,250) on how many of these applications will be accepted for one year starting January 22, 2024, at 8:30 EST. Once that number is reached, later applications in scope will not be processed and fees will be returned.
• The rule changes how quickly and through what process new international students can get their applications accepted. This can affect timelines for admission, travel planning, and school enrollment.