Study Permits Update — July 30, 2026
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Canada will issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026 — 155,000 to new arrivals and 253,000 extensions — a 7% drop from 2025 and 16% drop from 2024, as IRCC aims to reduce the temporary resident population below 5% of Canada's total population by end of 2027.
Starting January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) no longer need a Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) to apply for a study permit.
Study permit holders dropped from over 1 million in January 2024 to about 725,000 by September 2025, showing the cap is working as intended — but further reductions are still planned.
What You Should Do
- If you are a master's or PhD student at a public DLI, confirm your institution appears on IRCC's list of eligible public DLIs (to be published at canada.ca) before submitting your study permit application without a PAL/TAL.
- If you are an undergraduate or college applicant, contact your province's designated authority immediately to secure a PAL/TAL space before your province's 2026 allocation runs out — spaces are limited and not refillable once exhausted.
- Check the 2026 provincial and territorial PAL/TAL allocation breakdown at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/2026-provincial-territorial-allocations-under-international-student-cap.html to understand how many spaces your target province has available.
- If you plan to work during your studies, confirm you are enrolled at a public DLI — private 'licensed' colleges do not qualify for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) under 2026 rules. Verify your institution's PGWP eligibility before enrolling.
- Ensure your proof of financial support covers CA$22,895 in living costs plus first-year tuition, and budget CA$235 for the study permit application fee including biometrics.
Sources
Topics Covered
International Student Cap Reduction: IRCC confirmed the 2026 study permit cap at 408,000 total issuances, down 7% from 2025 and 16% from 2024, as part of a broader plan to reduce Canada's temporary resident population below 5% of 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 when applying for a study permit, recognizing their contributions to Canada's economic growth and innovation.
More Study Permits Updates
Study Permits Update — July 27, 2026
Jul 27, 2026
Study Permits Update — July 20, 2026
Jul 20, 2026
Study Permits Update — July 16, 2026
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