Canada’s Study Permit Targets for 2026 Revealed

Canada has announced its study permit target for 2026, aiming for 408,000 permits, marking a 7% decrease from the previous year.

According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the allocation includes 155,000 permits for new international students and 253,000 for in-Canada extensions.

Breakdown of the 408,000 Permits

• Students requiring PAL/TAL: 180,000
• Master’s and PhD students (PAL/TAL-exempt): 49,000
• K–12 students (also exempt): 115,000
• Other exempt groups: 64,000

Effective January 2026, master’s and doctoral students at public Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) are fully exempt from the federal cap, eliminating the need for a provincial or territorial attestation letter. The forecasted 49,000 permits are indicative of IRCC’s issuance expectations, not a strict limit.

Provincial Allocations for Capped Groups

For students still requiring a PAL/TAL, IRCC anticipates processing 309,670 applications in 2026, with an estimated approval rate of up to 180,000 permits. These approvals will be distributed among provinces and territories based on population, with Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia receiving the largest shares within this allocation.