Canada's 2024 Study Permit Cap by Province

Note: this post is a duplicate. The maintained version is in Canada sets visa limit for international students by province.

How are study permits being distributed in Canada?

There will be an overall increase in the number of students who can be admitted in the following provinces compared to the number of international students admitted in 2023:

• Alberta
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

Read also: “Report reveals impact of Temporary Immigrants in Quebec”

On the other hand, the remaining provinces will experience a decrease in the number of international students compared to 2023:

• British Columbia (-47%)
• Manitoba (-16%)
• New Brunswick (-20%)
• Nova Scotia (-28%)
• Ontario (-62%)
• Prince Edward Island (-22%)

How did IRCC determine the number of visas for international students to be issued in 2024?

The IRCC has chosen to follow a net-zero growth model for 2024, which implies that the number of international students entering Canada this year must balance with the number of those whose licenses will expire. An estimated 485,000 student visas will expire in 2024.

To maintain this model, IRCC subtracted from the number of expired licenses the anticipated number of students who will apply for a study permit extension, adding a small buffer to accommodate other variables as well as students who will enter Canada in 2024 but are exempt from the cap.

After provincial adjustments, IRCC expects to receive only 291,914 new international students this year, a 28% reduction compared to 2023. Based on the estimated pass rate, IRCC will process 552,095 study permit applications for 2024.

How is allocation distribution determined?

IRCC bases study permit distribution on the proportion of each province’s population. This implies that some provinces will receive more international students in 2024 than in 2023, while others will receive fewer.

Here’s the tricky part:

For provinces expected to see an increase in the number of international students in 2024 compared to 2023, IRCC has adjusted its allocation to limit growth to 10%. For example, although Alberta was supposed to increase its international student permit by 23%, it was limited to just a 10% increase.

For provinces expected to welcome fewer international students in 2024 than in 2023, IRCC has adjusted its allocation to mitigate the negative impact and support broader regional immigration goals. An example of this is Ontario.

Based on its population share, Ontario was expected to receive an allocation of 152,394, representing a 62% drop compared to the previous year. In an effort to reduce the negative impact, IRCC has increased its allocation to 235,000.

Additionally, IRCC has recalibrated allocations in provinces that currently have an approval rate of less than 60%. An example of this is Prince Edward Island, which received an allocation of 2,312, predicted to result in 1,202 study permit approvals.

	Allocation After Initial Adjustment			Final Allocation After Top-Ups for PTs with Approval Rate Below 60%
Province / Territory	PT Allocations (A)	Projected SPs Approved (B)	% Change from 2023	Top-Up (C)	Revised PT Allocations with Top-Up (A+C)	Projected SPs Approved (same as B
Alberta	40,894	24,537	10%	N/A	40,894	24,537
British Columbia	83,000	49,800	-18%	N/A	83,000	49,800
Manitoba	15,233	9,140	-10%	3,420	18,652	9,140
New Brunswick	9,279	5,567	-10%	5,372	14,651	5,567
Newfoundland and Labrador	2,365	1,419	10%	788	3,153	1,419
Northwest Territories	333	200	4900%	N/A	333	200
Nova Scotia	12,906	7,744	-10%	7,472	20,378	7,744
Nunavut	333	200	6567%	N/A	333	200
Ontario	235,000	141,000	-41%	N/A	235,000	141,000
Prince Edward Island	2,004	1,202	-10%	308	2,312	1,202
Quebec	72,716	43,629	10%	45,202	117,917	43,629
Saskatchewan	12,043	7,226	10%	3,011	15,054	7,226
Yukon	417	250	205%	N/A	417	250
Total	486,523	291,914	-28%	65,572	552,095	291,914

Source: IRCC

The full report can be consulted by clicking on this link.

Which provinces are most impacted by these allocations?

The provinces most affected by the distribution of Study visa allocations are British Columbia and Ontario.

Ontario will experience the largest decrease. In 2023, the province welcomed 239,753 international students subject to the cap, but will be limited to just 141,000 in 2024. This reduction represents a significant drop in the number of new students entering the province.

Read also: “A brief history about Canada’s immigration policy”

British Columbia will also face a considerable decrease. In 2023, it welcomed 60,864 international students subject to the cap, but in 2024 this number will be reduced to 49,800.

How can I increase my chances of studying in Canada even with this new scenario?

The distribution of study permits adds complexity to the study process in Canada. With only a 60% approval rate for study visas, your chances of successfully obtaining your study permit were already 6 in 10 before this cutoff.

Read also: “How to request the Certificate of Acceptance of Quebec (CAQ) in 2026”

Now, the process will become even more competitive, as it is necessary to stand out to the province to receive a Provincial Attestation Letter and thus be able to apply for a study permit.

Read also: “International students destined for the province of Quebec will now need a letter of attestation in addition to the CAQ”

However, there are several ways to increase your chances of receiving a Provincial Attestation Letter from a province and being able to apply to study in Canada:

• Apply to programs that offer in-demand skills. Provinces like Ontario will prioritize granting PALs for high-demand programs such as skilled trades, child care, STEM, hospitality, human resources and French tuition.
• Apply to study in a province or territory that will see an overall increase in the number of international students under the new federal allocation, such as Alberta, Quebec, Saskatchewan and the territories.
• Avoid applying to provinces with a high rejection rate and low quota, such as Newfoundland and Labrador, which has a 45% approval rate and a low quota of 1,419 permits.
• Submit your application early. Since PALs are now quota-based, applying early can increase your chances of securing one.
• For British Columbia specifically, consider improving your English language proficiency as the province plans to establish new minimum language requirements for international students.
• Consider enrolling at a public post-secondary institution instead of a private college, as public institutions are receiving a larger allocation of PALs from the provinces, including British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Ontario.

Final considerations

Among the main topics covered in this article, below is a summary of the essential points to keep in mind for your study project in Canada.

Competition for study programs in Ontario and British Columbia will be intense, while students seeking to study in Alberta, Quebec, Saskatchewan or the Canadian territories may face less impact.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) plans to issue 291,914 Study Permits in 2024, reflecting a 28% drop from 2023 for groups affected by the cap.

Based on projected pass rates, IRCC has determined that the 2024 international student permit allocation will be 552,095. This implies that only 552,095 study permit applications will be processed this year.

There are several steps that can be taken to increase the chances of obtaining a Provincial Letter of Acceptance, such as enrolling in skills programs that are in high demand in certain provinces and avoiding those with low quotas and high rejection rates.

If you are thinking about studying in Canada in 2024, I wish you the best of luck. However, to be honest, the time available for this is already quite limited, and considering the current scenario of changes and adjustments, perhaps 2025 is a more realistic date.

It is important to be aware that the flexible paths of the past are no longer available. Now, it is necessary to really be proficient in the language or languages ​​and carry out an in-depth study of the area of ​​activity and the location of establishment.

Without these three well-structured pillars, your chances of success in a study program in the frozen lands of the north can be considerably compromised and expensive.

Well, that’s what I had to say today. I hope this information helped once again. Want more tips like these? Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates about this adventure we affectionately call immigration.

See you in the next post! 😉