The majority of international study permit allocation takes place in Ontario. Many international study permits (96%) go to public universities and colleges in Ontario, while the remainder is split between language schools, private universities, and other institutions across the province.
In a news release, the Government of Ontario declared that its study permit allocation will prioritize postsecondary educational programs at public institutions to help prepare graduates for in-demand jobs that support Ontario’s labor market needs.
Note: This allocation implies that career colleges, which are generally private institutions, will be excluded from receiving international student study permit applications.
According to the release, Ontario’s provincial government has chosen to allocate study permits for international students by prioritizing programs in numerous ‘high-demand areas’ including:
- Childcare
- Health Human Resources
- STEM
- Hospitality
- Skilled Trades
Ontario has also specified that it will prioritize French-language enrolment, adding that this is integral because employers compete for workers with French-language skills.
In addition, the allocation of study permits to an individual institution cannot exceed the number of permits issued in 2023 & the ratio of international permits cannot exceed 55% of the institution’s 2023’s first-year domestic enrollment.
All public Ontario universities besides Algoma University will keep applications at the 2023 level. Also, 11 of Ontario’s 24 public colleges will also maintain applications at the 2023 level.
Why Is Ontario Allocating Its International Study Permits?
As international study permit allocation takes place in Ontario, the recent announcement comes in response from IRCC earlier this year to place a cap on the number of study permits issued to international students across Canada in 2024 & 2025.
This measure from IRCC is focused on international students at the undergraduate level. Specifically, IRCC’s cap excludes international students at the primary & secondary school level, along with students pursuing master’s & doctoral degrees.
How Do Ontario’s Allocations Compare To Other Provinces?
Ontario’s allocation of study permit quotas demonstrates a much larger skew towards public institutions than some other provinces. For instance, British Columbia splits its allocation roughly evenly between public postsecondary institutions (53%) & private institutions (47%). British Columbia’s Ministry of Future Skills & Postsecondary Education confirmed that the province will be allocated 83,000 undergraduate study permit applications for 2024.
Ontario hasn’t yet declared the total number of study permit applications that it has been given from the federal government this year. Guidelines provided by IRCC suggest that the province will have the largest quota for study permits of any territory/ province in Canada based on its population size.
Getting A Provincial Attestation Letter In Ontario
International study permit allocation takes place in Ontario. Well, the province has yet to formally declare the start of its PAL issuance system. However, the province is expected to do so in the forthcoming days. The federal government set a deadline of March 31st for all provinces & territories to have a process in place for issuing PALs to international students.
As of now, international students looking to study in Ontario are advised by the provincial government to directly contact their school of choice to get more details on how the document can be procured. According to the Ontario College Application Service, international students will not have to apply for Provincial Attestation Letters directly. Instead, a student’s chosen DLI will apply on their behalf to the Ontario Ministry of University & Colleges. Once the application is approved & the PAL is ready, international students will obtain a copy of their letter from their DLI.