Study Permits Update — July 13, 2026

What You Should Do

• -If you are a master's or PhD applicant to a public DLI for 2026, confirm you do NOT need to obtain a PAL/TAL before submitting your study permit application — verify your institution's DLI status at canada.ca/designated-learning-institutions.
• -If you are applying for a doctoral study permit from outside Canada, submit your application online through the IRCC portal (ircc.canada.ca) to qualify for the 14-calendar-day expedited processing — ensure your spouse/common-law partner or dependent children are included in the same application to also benefit from fast-track processing.
• -If you are a student planning to attend a private college, confirm whether your institution is a licensed public DLI, as private DLI students remain under the cap and must still provide a PAL/TAL — check your institution's status before applying.
• -Ensure your proof of financial resources meets the updated 2026 requirement of CA$22,895 in living costs plus first-year tuition before submitting your study permit application — gather bank statements or financial documents accordingly.
• -If you are a master's or PhD student, confirm your eligibility for a spousal Open Work Permit for your partner, as this benefit applies only to those program levels and select professional degrees — check requirements at ircc.canada.ca.