According to the latest announcement by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), of the total study permits planned for next year, 253,000 will be for returning students seeking extensions. The remaining 155,000 will be for new students, a sharp decline from this year’s 305,900.

The IRCC notes the 2026 projection is 7% lower than the 2025 target of 437,000 and 16% lower than the 2024 target of 485,000.

IRCC described this measure as an “effective tool” to slow the growth of Canada’s temporary resident population in the announcement posted on the Canadian government’s website.

The total number of valid study permits has already fallen from more than one million in January last year to about 725,000 in September this year.

However, as it works “to reduce the overall temporary population and bring sustainability back to the immigration system,” the IRCC said it remains focused on attracting top talent through the International Student Program to meet Canada’s broader economic and social goals.

Starting Jan. 1 next year, 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 efforts to attract talent. A full list of public DLIs offering eligible programs will be available on the government website soon.

According to the Open Doors report by the Institute of International Education (IIE), Canada hosted the world’s second-largest international student population after the U.S., about 800,000 in the 2024–2025 academic year.