Study Permits

Study Permits Update — May 7, 2026

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Canada's 2026 international student cap is set at 408,000 study permits (new arrivals plus renewals), down from both 2024 and 2025 levels, as IRCC aims to reduce the temporary resident population below 5% of Canada's total population by end of 2027.

Master's and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions are now exempt from the Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) requirement, are not counted against the national cap, and benefit from two-week processing times.

Effective April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for mandatory academic work placements such as co-ops, internships, and practicums that form part of their program.

What You Should Do

  • If you are a prospective master's or PhD student applying to a public designated learning institution in Canada, confirm your institution's DLI status on the IRCC website (canada.ca/designated-learning-institutions) — you do not need a PAL/TAL and are exempt from the national cap.
  • If you are an undergraduate or college-level international student, contact your institution's international office to confirm they have been issued a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) before submitting your study permit application, as the national cap of 408,000 applies to you.
  • If you are a current post-secondary international student with a mandatory co-op, internship, or practicum in your program starting after April 1, 2026, confirm with your institution's international student office that you qualify under the new rules and do not need to apply for a separate co-op work permit.
  • Check whether your intended program qualifies for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) — private 'licensed' colleges are not PGWP-eligible and PGWP fields of study have been updated for 2026. Verify eligibility at canada.ca/pgwp before enrolling.

Sources

  1. Canada Sets 2026 International Student Cap – With Fewer Permits and Stricter Provincial Limits - Immigration.ca
  2. Canada Rings in 2026 With Sweeping Immigration Changes—From PAL-Exempt Graduate Permits to a Start-Up Visa Freeze - VisaHQ
  3. April 2026: Key IRCC Policy Changes Affecting International Students And Refugee Claimants - Mondaq
  4. Canada Student Visa Updates 2026: New Rules for International Students - IDP Education
  5. Applying to Canada in 2026? Two study-permit changes international students need know - Times of India

Topics Covered

International Student Cap ReductionGraduate Student PAL ExemptionStudent Work Authorization Simplification

International Student Cap Reduction: Canada's 2026 study permit issuance target is 408,000 — lower than both 2024 and 2025 — as part of the government's goal to reduce the temporary resident population below 5% of Canada's total population by end of 2027.

Graduate Student PAL Exemption: Master's and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions are exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement, excluded from the national cap, and receive two-week processing times as of January 2026.

Student Work Authorization Simplification: Effective April 1, 2026, post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for mandatory academic work placements including co-ops, internships, and practicums.

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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