Study Permits Update — June 15, 2026
Monday, June 15, 2026
Canada set its 2026 international student permit target at approximately 408,000 — a 7% drop from 2025 — with a national cap of roughly 155,000 study permits; undergraduate applicants continue to face tighter quotas, especially in Ontario and BC.
Master's and doctoral students at public universities are now officially exempt from needing a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), effective January 1, 2026, streamlining the process for graduate-level applicants.
As of June 3, 2026, study permit processing times for India-based applicants increased by one week, while most other countries remained stable; applicants must now prove CA$22,895 in living costs plus first-year tuition.
What You Should Do
- If you are a Master's or PhD applicant to a Canadian public university, confirm with your institution that you do NOT need a PAL — this exemption applies as of January 1, 2026 and should speed up your application.
- If you are an undergraduate international student applying from India, account for the additional processing week (times increased as of June 3, 2026) and apply as early as possible through your IRCC online account at canada.ca/ircc-account.
- Before submitting your study permit application, confirm you can demonstrate CA$22,895 in living costs plus your full first-year tuition in your bank statements — this is IRCC's 2026 financial proof requirement.
- If you are considering a private college, verify that the institution is PGWP-eligible before enrolling — as of 2026, private 'licensed' colleges are not PGWP-eligible, meaning you would not qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
- Check current study permit processing times for your country weekly at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html — times are updated regularly and shifted by one week for India-based applicants as of June 3, 2026.
Sources
Topics Covered
International Student Cap Reduction: Canada's 2026 international student permit target is approximately 408,000 — a 7% reduction from 2025 — with a national study permit cap of roughly 155,000. Undergraduate applicants in Ontario and BC face the tightest quotas.
Graduate Student PAL Exemption: Effective January 1, 2026, Master's and doctoral students applying to Canadian public universities are officially exempt from needing a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), removing a significant barrier that had slowed graduate applications.
More Study Permits Updates
Study Permits Update — June 22, 2026
Jun 22, 2026
Study Permits Update — June 18, 2026
Jun 18, 2026
Study Permits Update — June 11, 2026
Jun 11, 2026
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