Study Permits Update — April 14, 2026
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Master's and doctoral students at public institutions are exempt from Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) requirements starting January 1, 2026, and not counted against the national cap
Canada expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026 (155,000 new arrivals, 253,000 extensions), representing a 7% decrease from 2025 targets
Graduate students now benefit from expedited 2-week processing and are exempt from cap restrictions
What You Should Do
- Apply for graduate programs at public Canadian institutions to benefit from PAL exemption and faster processing if pursuing master's or doctoral studies
- Check with your designated learning institution about PAL requirements if applying for undergraduate programs, as the cap still applies to these students
- Monitor provincial allocation announcements throughout 2026 as the reduced cap may affect availability in your province
Sources
Topics Covered
Graduate Student PAL Exemption: Master's and doctoral students at public institutions no longer need Provincial Attestation Letters and are exempt from the national study permit cap.
International Student Cap Reduction: Canada reduced 2026 study permit targets to 408,000 from 437,000 in 2025, continuing efforts to reduce temporary population to below 5% by 2027.
More Study Permits Updates
Study Permits Update — October 19, 2026
Oct 19, 2026
Study Permits Update — October 15, 2026
Oct 15, 2026
Study Permits Update — October 12, 2026
Oct 12, 2026
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