Study Permits

Study Permits Update — April 27, 2026

Monday, April 27, 2026

For 2026, IRCC plans to issue up to 408,000 study permits (155,000 to new students, 253,000 extensions), which is 7% lower than the 2025 target of 437,000 and 16% lower than the 2024 target of 485,000.

As of January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students enrolled at public designated learning institutions (DLIs) are exempt from needing a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) with their study permit application.

The number of study permit holders has already dropped from over 1 million in January 2024 to approximately 725,000 by September 2025, reflecting the impact of the international student cap introduced in 2024.

What You Should Do

  • If you are applying for a master's or doctoral program at a public DLI in Canada, confirm with your institution that it is a designated learning institution (DLI) at canada.ca/dli-list — if it is, you do not need to obtain a PAL/TAL before submitting your study permit application as of January 1, 2026.
  • If you are applying as an undergraduate or college student, check your province's 2026 PAL/TAL allocation and application process directly through your provincial government's website, as the cap and attestation requirement still apply to you.
  • If you are a current study permit holder whose permit is expiring, apply for an extension as soon as possible — IRCC is planning 253,000 extensions in 2026, but spots are limited. Apply through your IRCC online account at ircc.canada.ca before your current permit expires.

Sources

  1. 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap - Canada.caOfficial
  2. Applying to Canada in 2026? Two study-permit changes international students need know - The Times of India

Topics Covered

International Student Cap ReductionGraduate Student PAL Exemption

International Student Cap Reduction: The 2026 study permit issuance target is 408,000 — down 7% from 2025 and 16% from 2024 — as IRCC continues its effort to reduce temporary residents to below 5% of Canada's total population by end of 2027.

Graduate Student PAL Exemption: Effective January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public DLIs are exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement, simplifying their study permit application process.

More Study Permits Updates

Study Permits Update — June 4, 2026

Jun 4, 2026

Study Permits Update — June 1, 2026

Jun 1, 2026

Study Permits Update — May 30, 2026

May 30, 2026

Get immigration updates in your inbox

Weekly analysis. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.