In January 2024, a two-year cap on the number of new study permits was announced by IRCC in January 2024. Candian Immigration Minister Marc Miller has now unveiled the official national cap figures and targets for 2024. This development marks a strategic approach by the Canadian government to regulate the influx of international students while ensuring a balanced educational landscape across provinces and territories.

A total of about 552,000 study permit applications have been allocated to provinces and territories under the national cap for 2024. These allocations are expected to yield approximately 292,000 approved study permits, representing a 28% reduction from 2023 for the groups included under the cap.

The cap is designed to maintain foreign enrolment to remain at the same growth level compared to 2023 levels. This involves providing opportunities for increasing enrolment in provinces with lower rates while at the same time decreasing study permits issued for provinces like Ontario and British Columbia. The target approval rate for study permit applications in 2024 is ancipitated to be at 53%., much lower than the historical average of 60%.

Important to note that the cap does not apply to students in graduate-level programmes, including master’s or doctoral studies. Study permit applications at the elementary and secondary school levels will also be exempt from the cap.