Study Permits Update — April 23, 2026
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Effective January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions are exempt from the Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) requirement and are not counted against Canada's national study permit cap, with two-week processing times available.
A new joint-programme rule now allows students in dual-credential programs to use a single attestation letter, reducing administrative burden for those enrolled across multiple institutions.
Canada's overall international student numbers are declining sharply in 2026 as a result of federal policy changes aimed at reducing study permit volumes, though graduate students are being deliberately protected from these restrictions.
What You Should Do
- If you are applying to a master's or doctoral program at a Canadian public university, confirm your institution is a designated learning institution at canada.ca/designated-learning-institutions and submit your study permit application directly — you do not need a PAL/TAL and can expect approximately two-week processing.
- If you are a graduate student enrolled in a joint or dual-credential program, confirm with your institution that a single attestation letter covers your full program before applying for your study permit, to avoid unnecessary delays.
- If you are applying for an undergraduate study permit (not master's or doctoral level), check whether your province has issued its PAL/TAL allocation for 2026 — the national cap still applies to non-graduate students. Contact your designated learning institution's international office for current PAL availability.
Sources
Topics Covered
International Student Cap Reduction: Overall international student numbers in Canada are declining sharply in 2026 following federal policy changes designed to reduce study permit volumes, with the PAL/TAL cap still applying to undergraduate and non-graduate students.
Graduate Student PAL Exemption: As of January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions are fully exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement, excluded from the national cap, and eligible for approximately two-week processing. A new joint-programme rule also allows single attestation letters for dual-credential programs.
More Study Permits Updates
Study Permits Update — June 11, 2026
Jun 11, 2026
Study Permits Update — June 8, 2026
Jun 8, 2026
Study Permits Update — June 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
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