Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 159, Number 51: GOVERNMENT NOTICES

December 20, 2025

DEPARTMENT OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION

IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE PROTECTION ACT

Ministerial Instructions with respect to the processing of certain applications for a study permit made by a foreign national as a member of the student class

These Instructions are published in the Canada Gazette in accordance with subsection 87.3(6) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

These Instructions are given, pursuant to section 87.3 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration as, in the opinion of the Minister, these Instructions will best support the attainment of the immigration goals established by the Government of Canada by

Overview

These Instructions establish that study permit applications within the scope of these Instructions require an attestation letter from the respective province or territory where the applicant intends to study.

The intent of these Instructions is to ensure that in 2026 the number of study permit applications accepted into processing by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration (the Department) within the scope of the Instructions does not exceed 309 670 for the period between January 1, 2026, at 00:00 EST and ending December 31, 2026, at 23:59 EST. Provinces and territories have been allocated a share of the 309 670 applications, as communicated by the Minister in letters to provincial and territorial counterparts, and as outlined in Notice – 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap, published on the Department’s website. As stipulated in these Instructions, certain categories of study permit applications are excluded from the conditions and the associated application cap established by these Instructions.

Definitions

The following definitions apply in these Instructions:

“Act”
  means the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
“exchange student”
means an international student who attends a designated learning institution under an exchange arrangement between the designated learning institution and the foreign national’s learning institution outside of Canada, where the exchange student does not pay tuition fees to the designated learning institution in Canada.
“level of study”
is categorized as follows:
  • (a) primary and secondary education,
  • (b) post-secondary education (including vocational and technical training, and undergraduate programs), and
  • (c) graduate education or above.
“public designated learning institution”
means a designated learning institution as defined in section 211.1 of the Regulations, that is named as such by the Department, as outlined in the list of public designated learning institutions, available on the Department’s website.
“provincial attestation letter”
means a letter issued by a provincial government confirming that an applicant has a space within the provincial allocation for study permit applications, and that must include the following information of the foreign national:
  • (a) full name,
  • (b) date of birth, and
  • (c) address.
“Regulations”
means the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
“territorial attestation letter”
means a letter issued by a territorial government confirming that an applicant has a space within the territorial allocation for study permit applications, and that must include the following information of the foreign national:
  • (a) full name,
  • (b) date of birth, and
  • (c) address.

Scope

These Instructions apply to applications for a study permit made under the student class, referred to in Part 12 of the Regulations, except for study permit applications that are

Conditions

In order to be accepted for processing, any study permit application subject to these Instructions that was made at or after January 1, 2026, 00:00 EST must, with the exception applicable to Quebec set out below, include a provincial or territorial attestation letter issued in the 2026 allocation year. Study permit applications that do not include a provincial or territorial attestation letter will not be accepted for processing and processing fees will be returned.

Where an application is accepted into processing but is withdrawn before a final decision has been made (and that withdrawal has been accepted by an officer), the application will be deemed not to have been accepted for processing for the purposes of the calculation of the provincial/territorial allocation.

If a provincial or territorial attestation letter accompanied a withdrawn study permit application, a foreign national may reuse the letter and submit it with a subsequent application, provided that the letter is not expired at the time the application is submitted. If a provincial or territorial attestation letter, which was issued in 2026, does not specify an expiry date, its expiry date shall be December 31, 2026, at 23:59 EST. If a study permit application is finalized as either refused or approved, the accompanying provincial or territorial attestation letter, if issued by a province or territory other than Quebec, may not be used in a subsequent study permit application.

Provided that it has not expired, a provincial attestation letter issued by Quebec before January 1, 2026, may be accepted for processing in the 2026 year and will be counted toward Quebec’s 2026 allocation. Provided that a provincial attestation letter issued by Quebec has not expired, it may be reused in subsequent study permit applications until Quebec’s allocation has been reached.

Transitional provision

Applications received on or before December 31, 2025, at 23:59 EST, but that have not received a final decision, will be examined in accordance with the Ministerial Instructions with respect to the processing of certain applications for a study permit made by a foreign national as a member of the student class that were in force at the time of receipt.

Maximum number of study permit applications to be accepted for processing in a year

These Instructions authorize a maximum of 309 670 study permit applications, within the scope of these Instructions, to be accepted for processing between January 1, 2026, at 00:00 EST and ending December 31, 2026, at 23:59 EST.

This maximum number of study permit applications accepted for processing may be amended in accordance with any subsequent Instructions the Minister may provide.

Study permit applications that are within the scope of these Instructions received by the Department after the maximum number of study permit applications have been reached will not be accepted for processing and processing fees will be returned.

Each province and territory has been allocated a share of the 309 670 study permit application spaces as a maximum to be accepted for processing, as communicated by the Minister in letters to provincial and territorial counterparts, and as outlined in Notice – 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap, published on the Department’s website.

Once the maximum number of study permit applications allocated to a province or territory has been reached, any further study permit applications received by the Department within the scope of these Instructions destined for a designated learning institution within that province or territory will not be accepted for processing and processing fees will be returned.

In the event that study permit applications are accepted for processing after the maximum number is reached, the Department will not continue to process those applications and processing fees will be returned.

Effective period

These Instructions take effect on January 1, 2026, at 00:00 EST and expire on December 31, 2026, at 23:59 EST.

Dated on December 8, 2025

The Hon. Lena Metlege Diab, ECNS, KC, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

DEPARTMENT OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION

IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE PROTECTION ACT

New Ministerial Instructions regarding the processing of applications under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot (Child Care) and Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot (Home Support)

These Instructions are published in the Canada Gazette, in accordance with subsection 87.3(6) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (the Act) by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration as, in the opinion of the Minister, these Instructions will best support the attainment of the immigration goals established by the Government of Canada.

Authority for these Ministerial Instructions is derived from section 87.3 of the Act.

These Instructions are directed to officers who are charged with handling and/or reviewing applications for permanent residence visas under the Home Care Worker Immigration (Child Care) and Home Care Worker Immigration (Home Support) classes established by Ministerial Instructions given under section 14.1 of the Act.

These Instructions repeal the Ministerial Instructions regarding the processing of applications under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot Program (Child Care) and Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot Program (Home Support) published in Part I of the Canada Gazette on March 22, 2025.

Considerations

These Instructions are intended to manage the processing of applications so as to support the reduction of application inventories, and in this way are consistent with the objective laid out in paragraph 3(1)(f) of the Act.

Scope

These Instructions apply to applications for a permanent resident visa made under the Home Care Worker Immigration (Child Care) and Home Care Worker Immigration (Home Support) classes.

Effective March 31, 2026, in order to support the Department of Citizenship and Immigration in managing inventory pressures, the number of new applications (submitted on or after March 31, 2026) that will be accepted for processing in a year for the Home Care Worker Immigration (Home Support) and Home Care Worker Immigration (Child Care) classes is set at zero.

The year begins on March 31 and ends on March 30.

Disposition of applications

Applications received in excess of the number that may be accepted for processing in a year will not be accepted for processing and fees will be returned.

Humanitarian and compassionate requests

A request made under subsection 25(1) of the Act from outside Canada and that accompanies an application that was not processed under these Instructions will not be processed.

Effective period

These Instructions take effect on March 31, 2026, and remain in effect until March 30, 2030, unless earlier repealed by the Minister.

Dated on December 12, 2025

The Hon. Lena Diab, ECNS, KC, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

DEPARTMENT OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION

IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE PROTECTION ACT

New Ministerial Instructions regarding the processing of applications under the Start-up Business Class and the Self-employed Persons Class

These Instructions are published in the Canada Gazette, in accordance with subsection 87.3(6) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (the Act), by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration as, in the opinion of the Minister, these Instructions will best support the attainment of the immigration goals established by the Government of Canada.

Authority for these Ministerial Instructions is derived from section 87.3 of the Act.

These Instructions are directed to officers who are charged with handling and/or reviewing applications for permanent resident visas under the Start-up Business Class and Self-employed Persons Class.

These Instructions supersede those issued on April 11, 2024.

Considerations

These Instructions are consistent with the objectives laid out in paragraphs 3(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act, specifically to pursue the maximum social, cultural and economic benefits of immigration; to enrich and strengthen the social and cultural fabric of Canadian society, while respecting the federal, bilingual and multicultural character of Canada; and to support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy, in which the benefits of immigration are shared across all regions of Canada.

These Instructions are intended to manage the processing of applications so as to support the reduction of application inventories, and in this way are consistent with the objective laid out in paragraph 3(1)(f) of the Act, and, in the case of the Start-up Business Class, to enable the prioritization of applications in a manner that will best support the attainment of immigration goals.

Start-Up Business Class

Setting to zero the number of new applications to be accepted for processing under the Start-Up Business Class

These Instructions apply to applications for permanent resident visas made under the Start-up Business Class, submitted on or after the coming-into-force date listed in these Instructions.

Effective January 1, 2026, and until further notice, in order to support the Department of Citizenship and Immigration (hereafter the Department) in managing inventory pressures, the number of new applications that will be accepted for processing in any calendar year for the Start-Up Business Class is set at zero.

For further clarity

Notwithstanding the above, the Department will accept for processing complete applications for permanent resident visas made under the Start-up Business Class only where

Additionally, updated commitment certificates will only be accepted by the Department until the day before the day the first related application for permanent residence is received by the Department from any member of the entrepreneurial team listed on the certificate. The date of receipt of the first application for permanent residence will serve as the lock-in date for the associated commitment certificate, after which no changes can be made to that commitment and no updated or subsequent commitment certificate will restart the six-month time frame in which all applications associated with the commitment must have been received by the Department.

Failure to meet these conditions will result in all associated applications not being accepted into processing and the return of processing fees to applicants. In order for any application associated with a commitment certificate to enter into processing, all applications associated with that commitment certificate must have been received by the Department as set out above.

Disposition of applications

Applications received by the Department that do not meet the conditions outlined in these Ministerial Instructions will not be accepted into processing and fees will be returned.

Humanitarian and compassionate requests

A request made under subsection 25(1) of the Act, from outside Canada and that accompanies an application that was not accepted for processing under these Instructions, will not be processed.

Prioritization of applications in the Start-Up Business Class

These Instructions apply to applications for permanent resident visas made under the Start-up Business Class which have been accepted for processing, including those submitted before the coming-into-force date listed in these Instructions.

Applications for permanent resident visas under the Start-Up Business Class that have been accepted for processing, including those received by the Department prior to the coming into force of these Instructions, shall be prioritized for processing if they meet the following conditions:

Applications will be processed in the following order: first, those applications which meet the above conditions; second, those applications which meet the above conditions except for the requirement that at least one member of the entrepreneurial team holds a valid work permit available only to applicants in the Start-Up Business Class; and finally, those applications which do not meet the above conditions.

Within each category, applications will be processed on a first-in, first-out basis, as annual admissions (levels) space allows, in the order of the date on which they are received, if all other applications associated with the commitment certificate have also been received. Applications received on the same date will be considered for processing having regard to routine office procedures.

Self-Employed Persons Class

Setting to zero the number of new applications to be accepted for processing under the Self-Employed Persons Class

These Instructions apply to complete applications for permanent resident visas made under the Self-Employed Persons Class, submitted on or after the coming-into-force date listed in these Instructions.

Effective January 1, 2026, and until further notice, in order to support the Department in managing inventory pressures, the number of new applications that will be accepted for processing in a calendar year for the Self-Employed Persons Class is set at zero.

Humanitarian and compassionate requests

A request made under subsection 25(1) of the Act, from outside Canada and that accompanies an application that was not accepted for processing under these Instructions, will not be processed.

Disposition of applications

Applications received by the Department will not be accepted into processing and fees will be returned.

Effective period

These Instructions take effect on January 1, 2026, and remain in effect until further notice.

Dated on December 5, 2025

The Hon. Lena Metlege Diab, ECNS, KC, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT

CANADA MARINE ACT

Quebec Port Authority — Supplementary letters patent

WHEREAS letters patent were issued by the Minister of Transport (“Minister”) for the Quebec Port Authority (“Authority”) under the authority of the Canada Marine Act (“Act”), effective March 1, 1999;

WHEREAS Schedule B of the letters patent describes the federal real property and immovables managed by the Authority;

WHEREAS the Minister may transfer the management of federal real property or federal immovables under his administration to the Authority under subsection 44(2) of the Act;

WHEREAS the board of directors of the Authority has requested that the Minister transfer management of the federal immovables known and designated as lot 2,160,328 and lot 2,257,342 of the cadastre of Quebec and underground services consisting of structures or improvements under parts of lot 2,257,343 of the cadastre of Quebec;

WHEREAS the board of directors of the Authority has requested that the Minister issue supplementary letters patent to amend Schedule B of the Authority’s letters patent;

WHEREAS it has been determined that previous amendments to Schedule B of the letters patent are no longer necessary and will be deleted to ensure the letters patent are accurate;

AND WHEREAS the Minister is satisfied that the amendments to the letters patent are consistent with the Act;

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to subsection 9(1) of the Act, the letters patent are amended as follows:

1. Article 8 of the letters patent is amended by deleting sections 8.5 and 8.6.

2. Schedule B of the letters patent is amended by removing the following description from paragraph (D) of Schedule B:

3. Schedule B of the letters patent is amended by adding the following description at the end of paragraph (D) of Schedule B:

4. Paragraph (D) of Schedule B of the letters patent is amended by removing the entirety of the text which begins with “The electrical facilities and the incidental equipment situated in the building” and ends with “100 A disconnect, make I.T.E.”.

5. These supplementary letters patent take effect on the date the Minister of Justice countersigns the Transfer of Administration of federal immovables described above to the Minister of Transport from the Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

ISSUED this 9th day of December, 2025.

The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Transport

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT

CANADA MARINE ACT

Sept-ĂŽles Port Authority — Supplementary letters patent 

WHEREAS letters patent were issued by the Minister of Transport (“Minister”) for the Sept-ĂŽles Port Authority (“Authority”) under the authority of the Canada Marine Act (“Act”) effective May, 1, 1999;

WHEREAS Schedule C of the letters patent sets out the immovables, other than federal immovables, held or occupied by the Authority;

WHEREAS, pursuant to subsection 46(2.1) of the Act, the Authority wishes to dispose of immovables designated as being lots 6 505 345, 6 505 344, and 5 864 429 of the cadastre of Quebec; 

WHEREAS the board of directors of the Authority has requested that the Minister issue supplementary letters patent to amend Schedule C of the letters patent;

AND WHEREAS the Minister is satisfied that the amendments to the letters patent of the Authority are consistent with the Act,

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to subsection 9(1) of the Act, the letters patent are amended as follows:

1. Schedule C of the letters patent is amended by adding the following description after the description of “Lot 3 931 541”:

SAVE AND EXCEPT:
Lot Description
6 505 345 An immovable known and designated in the Land register of Quebec as being lot 6 505 345.
6 505 344 An immovable known and designated in the Land register of Quebec as being lot 6 505 344.
5 864 429 An immovable known and designated in the Land register of Quebec as being lot 5 864 429.

2. These supplementary letters patent take effect on the date of registration of the deeds of sale, in the Land register of Quebec, of each parcel of land subject to the transaction.

ISSUED this 9th day of December, 2025.

The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Transport

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT

CANADA MARINE ACT

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority — Supplementary letters patent

WHEREAS the Governor in Council issued a Certificate of Amalgamation containing letters patent to amalgamate the Vancouver Port Authority, the Fraser River Port Authority and the North Fraser Port Authority and to continue as one port authority named the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (“Authority”), effective January 1, 2008;

WHEREAS Schedule B of the letters patent sets out the federal real property or federal immovables managed by the Authority;

WHEREAS, pursuant to subsection 45.1(1) of the Canada Marine Act (“Act”), the Authority has requested that the Minister of Transport (“Minister”) acquire the federal real property known and designated as PID Number 031-942-423, and the port authority may pay the price of the property in question;

WHEREAS the real property is the property of Port Vancouver Holdings Ltd and that it is authorized to close the sale with the Government of Canada, represented by the Minister, who will be acquiring the real property, pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act and the Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Regulations;

WHEREAS the board of directors of the Authority has requested that the Minister issue supplementary letters patent amending Schedule B of the letters patent;

WHEREAS Schedule C of the letters patent sets out the real property, other than federal real property, held or occupied by the Authority;

WHEREAS the Authority wishes to acquire real property known and designated as PID Number 031-938-752 pursuant to subsection 46(2.1) of the Act;

WHEREAS the board of directors of the Authority has requested that the Minister issue supplementary letters patent amending Schedule C of the letters patent;

AND WHEREAS the Minister is satisfied that the amendments to the letters patent are consistent with the Act;

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to subsection 9(1) of the Act, the letters patent are amended as follows:

ISSUED this 2nd day of December, 2025.

The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Transport

INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CANADA

RADIOCOMMUNICATION ACT

Notice No. SMSE-014-25 — Publication of SRSP-512, Issue 2

Notice is hereby given that Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada has published the following document:

This document is now official and available on the Published documents page of the Spectrum management and telecommunications website.

Submitting comments

Comments and suggestions for improving this document may be submitted online using the Standard Change Request form.

December 10, 2025

Wen Kwan
Director General
Engineering, Planning and Standards Branch