Study Permits Update — September 10, 2026
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Canada will issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026 — 155,000 to newly arriving international students and 253,000 extensions — a 7% reduction from 2025 targets and 16% lower than 2024.
Starting January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) are exempt from the Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) requirement when applying for a study permit.
Financial proof requirements for 2026 study permit applicants include CA$22,895 for living costs plus first-year tuition; spousal Open Work Permits are only available for Master's, PhD, and select professional degree holders.
What You Should Do
- If you are applying for a master's or doctoral study permit at a public DLI starting January 1, 2026, confirm your institution appears on IRCC's eligible public DLI list (to be published at canada.ca/ircc) — you will not need a PAL/TAL with your application.
- If you are an undergraduate or college-level international student applicant, confirm your province's 2026 PAL/TAL allocation with your institution before submitting your study permit application, as the cap still applies to you.
- Prepare proof of CA$22,895 in living cost funds plus your first-year tuition amount as part of your 2026 study permit application — this financial requirement is now enforced more strictly under updated IRCC scrutiny rules.
- If you are a student at a private college, verify whether your institution is a 'licensed' private DLI, as private colleges that are not publicly designated are not eligible for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) under 2026 rules.
Sources
Topics Covered
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, in recognition of their contributions to Canada's economic growth and innovation.
Study Permit Financial Scrutiny: The 2026 financial proof requirement for study permit applicants is set at CA$22,895 for living costs plus first-year tuition, with stricter enforcement under updated IRCC compliance guidance.
International Student Cap Reduction: Canada has set its 2026 study permit issuance target at 408,000 — down 7% from 2025 and 16% from 2024 — as part of a plan to reduce the temporary population to below 5% of the total population by end of 2027. The number of study permit holders has already dropped from over 1 million in January 2024 to about 725,000 by September 2025.
More Study Permits Updates
Study Permits Update — September 7, 2026
Sep 7, 2026
Study Permits Update — September 3, 2026
Sep 3, 2026
Study Permits Update — August 31, 2026
Aug 31, 2026
Get immigration updates in your inbox
Weekly analysis. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.