Maple News reports that recent updates to Canada’s study permit system are causing significant ripple effects across the international education landscape. In January 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a two-year cap on international student permits, aiming to limit the number of approved applications to 292,000 annually. To implement this, a new Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) system was rolled out, delegating application quotas to each province and territory.
Data released by IRCC shows that these new measures have led to a noticeable plunge in study permit processing and approval rates. For instance, in March 2024, only 33,000 study permits were processed—less than half of the 70,000 handled during the same month in 2023. Concurrently, processing times have increased, peaking in May at 14.8 weeks—marking the longest average wait time in over two years.
Notably, Indian students, traditionally the largest group of international students in Canada, were issued just over 4,000 study permits in March 2024—a dramatic decrease from the 28,000-plus approvals in March 2023. While India remains the top source country, Ghana and Nigeria have risen to occupy the second and third spots, respectively.
IRCC also reported lower overall approval rates in early 2024. From January to April, only 50% of processed study permit applications were approved—down from a 58% approval rate in 2023 and 54% in 2022. The reduced processing and approval rates are partially attributed to delays in implementing the PAL system in Q1, as provincial governments adjusted to the new policy.
This shift has also altered the geographic composition of Canada’s international student body. While major contributors like China and the Philippines remain in the top five, countries such as Guinea and Senegal, which had previously lower permit counts, are now among the top 11 source nations. Interestingly, 12 out of 17 African countries saw increased approval volumes in Q1 2024 compared to 2023, highlighting a diversification in Canada’s international education ecosystem.
Experts believe the current figures may pick up later in the year. While the cap was designed assuming a 60% approval rate, the existing rate hovers around 50%. If IRCC can streamline processes and provinces fully implement the PAL system, both interest and approvals could recover, helping Canada meet its international student targets.
As the global demand for quality education persists, all eyes remain on how Canada’s evolving policies will impact students, institutions, and the broader immigration framework in the coming months.