Canada's 2025 Study Permit Allocation: Provincial Breakdown and Updates on PAL Requirements

Canada has unveiled the details of its 2025 study permit allocation, including how many international students each province is expected to welcome and updates on the new Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) requirement. Here's a simplified breakdown of the key information shared by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Study Permit Allocations for 2025

In 2025, Canada is projected to issue 437,000 study permits, marking a 10% decrease compared to 2024. The cap on study permits aligns with the federal government's plan to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada. To implement this cap, IRCC has introduced the PAL system, which determines which students need additional documentation to apply for a study permit.

Breakdown of Study Permit Issuances

Here’s how the 437,000 permits will be distributed among student categories:

Graduate Students: Graduate students, including those pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees, will make up 16.77% of all study permits issued.

PAL/TAL-Required Cohorts: The majority—242,994 permits—will be issued to students in programs like post-secondary education and non-degree graduate certificates that require PALs.

Provincial and Territorial Allocations

IRCC has also shared the breakdown of study permits by province and territory. Below is an overview of how many permits each region is expected to issue to graduate students and other PAL/TAL-required cohorts:

New PAL Requirements in Effect

As of January 24, 2025, IRCC requires master’s and doctoral students to submit PALs, a change from previous policies. However, exchange students have been newly exempted from PAL/TAL requirements, joining groups like:

• Kindergarten to Grade 12 students,
• Government priority groups and vulnerable cohorts,
• Existing study permit holders renewing permits for the same school and study level.

Why a Cap on Study Permits?

The cap supports the federal government's 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which includes temporary resident targets to balance population growth. Key highlights:

• 2025 student arrivals target: 305,900
• 2025 work permit arrivals under the International Mobility Program (IMP): 285,750

By limiting study permits and tightening family open work permits and Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility, Canada aims to manage the influx of foreign nationals while addressing infrastructure and labor market needs.

What This Means for International Students

With reduced allocations and stricter requirements, international students need to plan their applications carefully. Understanding PAL requirements and aligning with provincial priorities can significantly enhance your chances of securing a study permit.