Quebec introduced a cap on the number of international student applications it will process under the Foreign Student Program. The province has set a maximum of 124,760 applications for the period between February 26, 2025, and February 26, 2026. This is the first time Quebec has imposed such a restriction, signaling a shift in its approach to international student intake.
Breakdown of Study Permit Application Limits
The cap is distributed across vocational training institutions, colleges, and universities as follows:
| Post-Secondary Institutions | Maximum Applications Accepted |
| Vocational Training | 32,261 |
| Colleges | 29,200 |
| Universities | 63,299 |
| Total | 124,760 |
This cap applies to all applications submitted after February 26, 2025. The primary objective is to reduce applications in vocational training and college programs while stabilizing new university student intake.
Not a Cap on Study Permits, but on Application Processing
It is important to note that this limit applies to the number of applications Quebec will accept for processing—not the number of study permits it will issue. This distinction means that even if an application is submitted, it may not be processed if the cap has already been reached.
Who is Exempt from the Cap?
The cap does not apply to certain categories of applicants, including:
- Those who submitted their applications before February 26, 2025.
- Students extending their stay in the same vocational training program at the same institution.
- Dependent children of temporary foreign workers or international students.
- Students applying to primary or secondary schools.
- Applicants under specific refugee protection provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- Individuals admitted to health sector training programs regulated by a professional order.
- Recipients of the Excellence Scholarship Program for Foreign Students pursuing professional training.
Quebec to Integrate Temporary Residents into Immigration Levels Plan
Quebec’s Immigration Minister, Jean-François Roberge, stated that the one-year cap allows the province to evaluate trends and adjust its policies. For the first time, Quebec will incorporate temporary immigration targets into its upcoming Immigration Levels Plan, expected in Q3 of 2025. This will help determine future study permit limits under the Foreign Student Program. The 2025 Immigration Levels Plan (announced last year) did not previously include specific targets for temporary residents. However, the province has now committed to setting these targets moving forward.
Canada’s Federal Cap on Study Permit Applications
Quebec’s decision aligns with the Canadian federal government’s move to regulate international student intake. In January 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a national cap of 550,162 study permit applications for the year, effective until December 31, 2025. Unlike Quebec’s cap, the federal limit applies across all provinces and refunds application fees for any submissions exceeding the cap. The federal government’s expected number of study permits for Quebec in 2025 is 72,977.
This marks the second consecutive year Canada has capped study permit applications, following a reduction from 606,250 applications in 2024. The federal government introduced these caps to stabilize temporary resident growth in the country.
What This Means for International Students
The Quebec government’s cap will impact prospective international students by limiting application intake across institutions. Those planning to study in Quebec should be aware of these new restrictions and apply as early as possible to avoid missing the cap.
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