Study Permits Update — June 4, 2026
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Canada's national study permit cap for 2026 is approximately 155,000; Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) or Territorial Attestation Letters (TALs) are required for most public post-secondary institutions, with exemptions for Master's and PhD students and those extending a degree at the same level.
International students can work up to 24 hours per week off-campus; Post-Graduation Work Permits remain available for 1–3 years depending on program, with 3-year PGWPs for Master's, PhD, and some professional degrees.
Spousal open work permits for students are now restricted to spouses of Master's, PhD, and select professional degree holders only.
What You Should Do
- If applying to a public post-secondary institution (below Master's/PhD level), confirm your institution has a PAL/TAL issued for 2026 before submitting your study permit application — your application will be refused without it.
- If you are a graduate student (Master's or PhD) applying to a public university, confirm you are exempt from the PAL requirement under the current rules at canada.ca/study-permits.
- If you plan to bring a spouse to Canada on an open work permit, verify your program qualifies (Master's, PhD, or select professional degree) before including a dependent spouse in your study permit application at canada.ca/study-permits.
- Check that your intended program is eligible for a PGWP and falls within an approved field of study before enrolling — private 'licensed' colleges are not PGWP-eligible under 2026 rules.
Sources
Topics Covered
International Student Cap Reduction: The 2026 national study permit cap is approximately 155,000, with PAL/TAL requirements in place for most public post-secondary institutions; private licensed colleges remain ineligible for PGWP.
Graduate Student PAL Exemption: Master's and PhD students applying to public universities remain exempt from PAL/TAL requirements under 2026 rules, while students extending a degree at the same level are also exempt.
Student Work Authorization Simplification: The 24-hour off-campus work limit remains in place for 2026, and spousal open work permits are now restricted to spouses of Master's, PhD, and select professional degree students only.
More Study Permits Updates
Study Permits Update — June 8, 2026
Jun 8, 2026
Study Permits Update — June 1, 2026
Jun 1, 2026
Study Permits Update — May 30, 2026
May 30, 2026
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