Study Permits

Study Permits Update — May 11, 2026

Monday, May 11, 2026

Canada's 2026 study permit target is 408,000 (including 155,000 new arrivals and 253,000 renewals), down 7% from 2025 and 16% from 2024, as part of a plan to reduce the temporary resident population below 5% of Canada's total population by end of 2027.

Effective January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions (DLIs) are exempt from the Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) requirement and are not counted against the national cap.

Students at the master's and PhD level benefit from approximately two-week processing times under the new rules, and their spouses may be eligible for an open work permit.

What You Should Do

  • If you are applying for a master's or doctoral study permit at a public DLI, confirm your institution appears on the IRCC list of eligible public DLIs (to be published at canada.ca) — you do not need to obtain a PAL/TAL and can apply directly.
  • If you are an undergraduate or college-level international student applicant, contact your intended province's designated authority to obtain a PAL/TAL before submitting your study permit application, as the cap and attestation requirement still apply to you.
  • If you are a master's or PhD student whose spouse wants to work in Canada, check eligibility for a spousal open work permit at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada — this benefit applies to master's, PhD, and select professional degree students.

Sources

  1. 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap - Canada.caOfficial
  2. Canada Rings in 2026 With Sweeping Immigration Changes—From PAL-Exempt Graduate Permits to a Start-Up Visa Freeze
  3. Canada Sets 2026 International Student Cap – With Fewer Permits and Stricter Provincial Limits
  4. Canada Student Visa Updates 2026: New Rules for International Students

Topics Covered

International Student Cap ReductionGraduate Student PAL Exemption

International Student Cap Reduction: The 2026 study permit issuance target is 408,000 — 7% lower than 2025 and 16% lower than 2024 — as IRCC continues to reduce the temporary resident population toward a sub-5% target by end of 2027.

Graduate Student PAL Exemption: As of January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public DLIs are fully exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement, are excluded from the national cap count, and benefit from approximately two-week processing times.

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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