IRCC Unveils Study Permit Allocations for Canadian Provinces

Following the declaration made on January 22 regarding the implementation of a cap on the processing of study permit applications annually, IRCC clarified that each province would receive a quota of study permits for international students based on its population.

Today, Immigration Minister Marc Miller elucidated on IRCC's methodology for determining these allocations and shared the finalized figures for each province.

Allocation Distribution:

Provinces and territories received their allotment of study permit applications proportional to their population.

IRCC acknowledges that without adjustments, this approach would result in some provinces welcoming more international students in 2024 compared to 2023, while others would see a decrease.

To mitigate adverse effects, IRCC adjusted allocations for provinces with reduced permit quotas. Provinces slated to receive more students in 2024 than in 2023 had their allocations capped at 10% of their population.

Additionally, allocations were increased for provinces with an approval rate below 60%, aiming to meet their anticipated number of approved study permits.

Ontario Leads:

Ontario received the largest share of study permits with an allocation of 235,000, reflecting its status as the most populous province. Notably, the province indicated that 96% of its allocated permits would be directed to public universities and colleges, limiting private institutions' capacity to enroll international students.

Other provinces also received substantial allocations. Quebec, after adjustments, secured an allocation of 117,917 study permits.

British Columbia, which previously announced an allocation of 83,000 study permits, equally distributed between public and private institutions, maintained a significant share.

Alberta, representing 11.67% of Canada's population, had its allocation capped at 10%, resulting in an overall allocation of 40,894 study permits.

Nova Scotia, initially allotted 12,900 study permits, received a significant increase, bringing its total allocation to 20,378 study permits.

IRCC Clarifies Cap:

It's important to note that the cap on study permits processed differs from those issued. IRCC clarified that while they cannot cap the number of approved study permits, they can cap the processing of applications. The department estimates processing 606,000 applications based on a national approval rate of 60%.

These allocations mark a crucial step in managing international student intake across Canadian provinces, reflecting IRCC's efforts to maintain balance and efficiency in the immigration system.