Canada International Student Cap: What’s Changing

The Canadian Government have recently announced new limits to the number of study permits applications for 2025. The new cap stands at 437,000 and will now include Masters and PhD students as well.

The announcement also outlines a few more changes to language requirements and eligibility for the Canadian post-graduation work permit (PGWP).

So, what's been announced?

International student permits for 2025 capped at 437,000.
New English or French language requirements for the post-graduation work permits (PGWPs)
New restrictions on the PGWP for college students
New restrictions on work permits for spouses

Let's go into the details of all these changes and how they might affect you.

New international student permit cap

The Canadian Government have further capped the maximum number of international study permits applications to 437,000 for 2025. In 2024, this limit was 485,000. The new 2025 limit will also apply for the 2026 intake.

The new limit will now include Masters and PhD students (they were exempt from the 2024 limit). However, 12% of the places will be reserved for postgraduate applicants.

If you’re confused between the numbers announced in January and now, that’s because the original cap of 360,000 (announced in January) was an estimate of the number of permits actually approved. Whereas the new 437,000 cap is for the number of permit applications. Typically, around 60% of permits applied for are approved.

Minimum language requirement for post-graduation work permits

In this latest announcement, the Canadian Government have said that students applying for the post-graduation work permits (PGWP) will need to demonstrate their language proficiency again.

All PGWP applicants, from 1 November 2024, will need to demonstrate minimum language proficiency in English or French with test results less than two years old at the time of application.

For university graduates this is a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 which is equivalent to an IELTS 6.0 in each skill.

For college graduates this is a minimum CLB 5 which is equivalent to an IELTS 5.0 in Writing, Listening and Speaking skills and a 4.5 in Reading.

If you're taking French language tests, you'll need a minimum Niveaux de Competence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC) 7 as a university graduate or NCLC 5 as a college graduate. The Canadian government accepts two French tests – the TEF Canada and the TCF Canada. Check with your university to know more about how your French language test score equates to NCLC levels.

New restrictions on the PGWP

There are new restrictions on the PGWP as well however this only affects college students. College students from only certain fields of study will be eligible for the three-year PGWP from 1 November 2024. You can find the list of 966 eligible courses on the Government of Canada's website.

Students graduated from certificate or diploma courses will need to meet the new field of study requirements. Make sure your course qualifies by checking the list or check with your university if you're unsure.

All Masters and PhD students will continue to be able to apply for a three-year maximum post study work permit.

Restrictions on spouse work permits

Previously, spouses of all graduate students were allowed to apply for a work permit. With the new restrictions, only spouses/partners of students whose courses are at least 16 months will be allowed a work permit. Masters in Canada usually last between one to two years so whether your partner will be able to apply for a work permit will depend on your circumstances.

Also, only spouses/partners of highly skilled workers like executives or scientists, workers in shortage sectors and those in critical sectors like healthcare can apply for work permits under the new restrictions.

We know these new restrictions make it sound very bleak, however Canada continues to be a popular study abroad destination. We’ll keep you updated on any new developments so you can make an informed decision.

If you’re still keen to make your dream of studying in Canada a reality, read our comprehensive guides on applications, visas and more!