On November 25, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published the 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap. The announcement also
2026 Study Permit Cap: Provincial Allocations and a New Exemption for Graduate Students
On November 25, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published the 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap. The announcement also brought an important change for master’s and doctoral students.
Master’s and PhD Students No Longer Need a PAL/TAL
From January 1, 2026, master’s and doctoral students enrolled at a public designated learning institution (DLI) do not need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) with their study permit application. IRCC said a list of eligible public institutions would be published.
Other groups that do not need a PAL/TAL include:
- primary and secondary school (K-12) students
- certain Government of Canada priority groups and vulnerable cohorts
- current study permit holders extending at the same institution and at the same level of study
The 2026 Numbers
- IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026: 155,000 to new arrivals and 253,000 extensions for current and returning students.
- This is 7% below the 2025 target and 16% below the 2024 target.
- Of these, 180,000 permits are for applicants who need a PAL/TAL, distributed among provinces and territories by population.
Ontario’s Allocation
Ontario has the largest share: a study permit target of 70,074 and up to 104,780 PAL/TAL-required applications accepted for processing. Application allocations are higher than permit targets because they account for each province’s average approval rate in 2024 and 2025. Across Canada, IRCC will accept a maximum of 309,670 PAL/TAL-required applications in 2026.
Why It Matters
IRCC reported that the number of study permit holders fell from more than 1 million in January 2024 to about 725,000 by September 2025. The government aims to reduce the temporary population to below 5% of Canada’s total population by the end of 2027.
Next Steps for Students
- Confirm whether your program requires a PAL/TAL.
- If it does, contact your school early, since each province distributes its spaces among its institutions.
- Graduate students should confirm that their institution is a public DLI.
To plan your 2026 study permit application, complete our online assessment or contact our office to book a consultation.
Source: IRCC notice – 2026 provincial allocations under the study permit cap