Canada Declared Final Cap Allocation Among All Provinces and Territories with Expected Visa Approval Rate of 53%

Canadian Government had earlier stated that it would cut down on the Study Permit Applications for 2024 and 2025 to maintain the quality of international students. This also resulted in provincial rationing of seats, and as expected public universities have benefited in Ontario and British Columbia, while Language training colleges and partnership colleges have been the hardest hit. The final announcement was made by IRCC with national cap allocation of 552000 Study Permit Applications for 2024 with an expectation to yield 292000 new Study Permit Approvals for 2024. This allocation expects zero growth in enrolment of international students compared to 2023. However, it will offer increased enrolment to most provinces with remarkable decrease for Ontario and British Columbia.

Considering an average of 60% Approval Rate for 2023, IRCC had previously determined to distribute 606000 Study Permit Applications in 2024 among all provinces and territories with the expected target of 364000 enrolment of international students. However, keeping exemption of international students from cap in mind, later it has been revised to 552000. IRCC deducted the estimated volume of exempted international students around 140000 and revised the cap allocation as mentioned above.

The target number of Study Permit issued for cap affected students in 2024 would result in a lower visa approval rate of 53% compared to 60% in 2024. Thus, combining IRCC is expecting total enrolment of around 364000 with contribution of 292000 students from cap affected allocation and 72000 students from exempted group.

There are many private establishments in Canada offering range of study programs which falls under exempted group i.e. School level study programs and master programs. So, it will be for sure a question for all of us how IRCC will control and monitor such private institutions. Keeping this small loophole of the new cap system, we can expect a few more private institutions coming
up in the market with offering of master level programs.