Study Permits Update — June 18, 2026
Thursday, June 18, 2026
As of June 3, 2026, IRCC updated study permit processing times — India-based applications increased by one week to 5 weeks, while times for other countries remained stable.
Canada's 2026 rules maintain a national study permit cap of approximately 155,000, require a Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) for most public institution applicants, and exempt Masters and PhD students at public universities from the PAL requirement.
International students are limited to 24 hours of off-campus work per week, and spousal open work permits are only available for spouses of Master's, PhD, and select professional degree students.
What You Should Do
- If you are applying for a study permit from India, budget for a 5-week processing time (as of June 3, 2026) and apply well in advance of your program start date. Check current times at ircc.canada.ca/english/information/times/temp.asp.
- If you are applying to a public post-secondary institution (not Masters/PhD), confirm with your institution that they have obtained a PAL/TAL for your intake before submitting your study permit application — applications without a required PAL/TAL will be returned unprocessed.
- If you are enrolled in a private college, verify that your institution is designated as 'licensed' and confirm your program qualifies for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) before enrolling — private colleges not on the approved list are not PGWP-eligible under 2026 rules.
- If you are a spouse of an international student and want an open work permit, confirm your partner is enrolled in a Master's, PhD, or designated professional degree program — spousal OWPs are not available for other program types under 2026 rules.
Sources
Topics Covered
International Student Cap Reduction: Canada's national study permit cap for 2026 is approximately 155,000. PAL/TAL requirements remain in place for most public institution applicants, with Masters and PhD students at public universities exempted.
Graduate Student PAL Exemption: Masters and PhD students applying to public universities remain exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement under 2026 rules, simplifying their application process compared to undergraduate-level applicants.
More Study Permits Updates
Study Permits Update — June 25, 2026
Jun 25, 2026
Study Permits Update — June 22, 2026
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Study Permits Update — June 15, 2026
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