Ottawa, November 25, 2025 — The international student cap limits the number of study permit applications that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts into processing yearly. Introduced in 2024, it has been an effective tool in slowing the growth of Canada’s temporary population, with the number of study permit holders dropping from over 1 million in January 2024 to about 725,000 by September 2025.

While this progress is significant, further reductions are needed to meet our commitment of reducing the share of Canada’s temporary population to below 5% of the total population by the end of 2027.

Next year, IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits, including 155,000 to newly arriving international students, as outlined in the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, and 253,000 extensions for current and returning students. This number is 7% lower than the 2025 issuance target of 437,000 and 16% lower than the 2024 issuance target of 485,000.

As we work to reduce the overall temporary population and bring sustainability back to the immigration system, we also remain focused on attracting top talent through the International Student Program to meet Canada’s broader economic and social goals.

As of January 1, 2026, master’s and doctoral level students enrolled at a public designated learning institution (DLI) will not need to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) with their study permit application. This exemption is in recognition of their unique contributions to Canada’s economic growth and innovation, and will support our efforts to attract talent. A full list of public DLIs offering eligible programs will be available on our website soon.

The following groups are exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement in 2026:

• master’s and doctoral degree students enrolled at public DLIs New
• primary and secondary (kindergarten to grade 12) students
• certain Government of Canada priority groups and vulnerable cohorts
• existing study permit holders applying for an extension at the same DLI and at the same level of study.

The number of study permits expected to be issued in 2026, broken down by student cohort, is as follows:

In 2026, up to 180,000 study permits are expected to be issued to applicants who require a PAL/TAL. The target of 180,000 is distributed to provinces and territories based on their population.

Provincial and territorial allocations reflect the number of study permit applications each jurisdiction is expected to need to meet the above issuance targets, taking into account that some applications are refused.

The following allocations have been assigned based on each jurisdiction’s average study permit application approval rate from 2024 and 2025:

A total of 309,670 study permit application spaces will be available under the cap for 2026. This represents the maximum number of study permit applications IRCC will accept for processing from PAL/TAL-required students for the calendar year. Each province or territory is responsible for distributing their allocated spaces to their respective designated learning institutions.

IRCC will continue to work with the provinces and territories to ensure that the International Student Program supports Canada’s economic and social priorities. By taking measured, responsible action, we can continue to benefit from all that international students bring to Canada.