Ottawa — November 25, 2025: Canada is preparing for another major shift in its international education landscape as the federal government tightens the cap on study permit applications for 2026. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed that the international student cap—first introduced in 2024—will remain a central tool in reducing the country’s temporary resident population. The policy has already led to a substantial decline in study permit holders, dropping from more than one million in January 2024 to roughly 725,000 by September 2025.
Despite the progress, officials say deeper reductions are necessary to meet Canada’s commitment to lowering its temporary population share to below 5% by the end of 2027. Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits next year, including 155,000 for newly arriving students and 253,000 for extensions from students already in Canada. This represents a 7% decrease from the 2025 target and a dramatic 16% drop from 2024 levels.
As the federal government works to rebalance the system, it is also carving out pathways designed to attract high-value talent. Beginning January 1, 2026, master’s and doctoral students enrolling at public designated learning institutions (DLIs) will be exempt from the requirement to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL). Ottawa says the exemption recognizes the vital contributions of graduate-level researchers and innovators, while helping Canada stay competitive in the global race for talent. A full list of eligible programs at public DLIs will soon be posted by IRCC.
Other groups exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement include kindergarten to Grade 12 students, certain priority government cohorts, vulnerable individuals, and students extending their permits at the same institution and study level. Of the 408,000 study permits expected in 2026, 49,000 will go to master’s and PhD students, 115,000 to primary and secondary students, and 64,000 to other exempt applicants. The remaining 180,000 permits are reserved for students who require a PAL/TAL.
For provinces and territories—including British Columbia, home to one of Canada’s largest international student populations—the new caps carry significant implications. B.C. is set to receive 24,786 study permits for PAL/TAL-required students in 2026. However, to reach that target, IRCC has allocated a higher number of application spaces—32,596—to account for refusals. Nationally, 309,670 PAL/TAL-required application spaces will be available next year, representing the cap on how many applications IRCC will accept for processing.
Each province and territory will now be responsible for distributing its allocation to local designated learning institutions, including colleges and universities across the Lower Mainland. With Surrey emerging as a fast-growing education hub, institutions in the region will be watching closely to see how the new limits shape their 2026 intake.
IRCC says it will continue working with provincial and territorial partners to ensure the International Student Program supports Canada’s economic and social objectives. Federal officials maintain that these “measured, responsible actions” are essential to restoring sustainability to the immigration system while preserving the valuable contributions international students bring to communities across the country.
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