A Canada study permit is the document that allows a foreign national to study at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada. It is not a visa – you may also need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization to actually travel to Canada – but it is the core authorisation for a programme longer than six months.
The rules changed substantially for 2026, and anything you read that predates November 2025 is likely to be wrong on the most important points. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026, seven per cent fewer than the 2025 target and sixteen per cent fewer than 2024. A cap on applications accepted into processing limits the field. And as of January 1, 2026, master’s and doctoral students at public institutions no longer need an attestation letter at all.
This guide sets out what applies now, drawing directly on IRCC’s published requirements.
On This Page, You Will Find:
- What a Canada study permit is and who needs one
- The 2026 study permit cap and what it means for your chances
- Provincial and territorial attestation letters (PAL/TAL) in 2026
- The new exemption for master’s and doctoral students
- Study permit eligibility requirements
- Proof of financial support
- Study permit fees
- How to apply, step by step
- Working while you study and after graduation
- From study permit to permanent residence
- Frequently asked questions
The 2026 Study Permit Cap Explained
Canada’s international student cap, introduced in 2024, limits how many study permit applications IRCC will accept into processing each calendar year. It has had a visible effect: the number of study permit holders in Canada fell from more than one million in January 2024 to roughly 725,000 by September 2025.
For 2026, the numbers are:
- 408,000 study permits expected to be issued in total – 155,000 to newly arriving students and 253,000 as extensions for current and returning students
- 309,670 application spaces available under the cap – the maximum number of applications IRCC will accept for processing from students who need an attestation letter
- 180,000 permits expected to go to attestation-letter-required applicants, distributed to provinces and territories by population
Within the 408,000 national figure, IRCC expects 49,000 permits for master’s and doctoral students at public DLIs, 115,000 for primary and secondary students, 64,000 for other exempt applicants, and 180,000 for the attestation-letter-required cohort.
The 2026 provincial allocations for study permit applications requiring provincial attestation letters are as follows:
| Province or territory | 2026 allocation for PAL/TAL-required applications |
|---|---|
| Ontario | 104,780 |
| Quebec | 93,069 |
| British Columbia | 32,596 |
| Alberta | 32,271 |
| Saskatchewan | 11,349 |
| Manitoba | 11,196 |
| Nova Scotia | 8,480 |
| New Brunswick | 8,004 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 5,507 |
| Prince Edward Island | 1,376 |
| Northwest Territories | 785 |
| Yukon | 257 |
| Nunavut | No allocation |
| Total | 309,670 |
Each province and territory distributes its allocation among its own institutions. Practically, this means the availability of an attestation letter depends on your institution’s remaining share, not on your personal merit – so apply early in the intake cycle.
Provincial and Territorial Attestation Letters in 2026
Most study permit applicants must include a provincial attestation letter (PAL) or territorial attestation letter (TAL) issued by the province or territory where they will study. Without one, IRCC returns the application.
The following groups are exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement in 2026:
- Master’s and doctoral degree students enrolled at public DLIs – new as of January 1, 2026
- Primary and secondary (kindergarten to grade 12) students
- Certain Government of Canada priority groups and vulnerable cohorts
- Existing study permit holders applying to extend at the same DLI and the same level of study
The graduate-student exemption is the single most consequential change of the year. IRCC framed it as recognition of graduate students’ contribution to economic growth and innovation, and as part of a broader talent-attraction push. If you are applying for a master’s or PhD at a public designated learning institution, you are outside the attestation-letter bottleneck entirely. Note the qualifier: the exemption applies to public DLIs, not private ones.
Study Permit Eligibility Requirements
To be approved for a study permit, you must show that you:
- have a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution
- hold a PAL or TAL, unless you fall into an exempt group
- have enough money to pay tuition, living expenses for yourself and any accompanying family members, and return transportation, without working in Canada
- have no criminal record, and will provide a police certificate if asked
- are in good health, and will complete a medical examination if required
- can satisfy an officer that you will leave Canada when your authorised stay ends
If you have a past conviction, read our criminal inadmissibility overview before applying – an unresolved inadmissibility will sink an otherwise strong application.
Proof of Financial Support
You must demonstrate funds for the first year of study, and explain how you will fund the remainder of a longer programme. For applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025, the living-expense thresholds for all provinces and territories except Quebec are:
| Number of family members (including the applicant) | Funds required per year (excluding tuition) |
|---|---|
| 1 person (the applicant) | $22,895 |
| 2 people | $28,502 |
| 3 people | $35,040 |
| 4 people | $42,543 |
| 5 people | $48,252 |
| 6 people | $54,420 |
| 7 people | $60,589 |
| Each additional person beyond 7 | $6,170 |
These figures exclude tuition and transportation, and IRCC updates them annually on September 1 in line with Statistics Canada’s low-income cut-off. Quebec sets its own financial capacity amounts through the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration; see our guide to financial requirements for studying in Quebec.
Acceptable evidence includes proof you have paid first-year tuition and housing, a Canadian bank account in your name, a guaranteed investment certificate from a participating Canadian financial institution, proof of a student or education loan, four months of bank statements, a convertible bank draft, a letter from a sponsor accompanied by supporting documents, or proof of a Canadian-funded scholarship.
One point of confusion worth clearing up: the Student Direct Stream (SDS), which required a specific GIC amount and offered faster processing, closed in November 2024. A GIC is still a perfectly good proof of funds, but it no longer buys expedited processing, and all study permit applications now go through the regular stream. Our page on how much money you need to study in Canada goes into more detail.
Study Permit Fees
- Study permit, including extensions: $150 per person
- Biometrics, where required: $85 per person, or a maximum of $170 per family applying together
- Restoring student status plus a new study permit: $396.25 in total
- Visitor visa, if required: $100; eTA, if required: $7
Our Government of Canada immigration fee schedule lists every current IRCC fee.
How To Apply for a Canada Study Permit
- Choose a designated learning institution and confirm it appears on IRCC’s DLI list. Only DLIs can host international students.
- Get your letter of acceptance. Apply to the institution directly; deadlines are set by the school, not IRCC.
- Obtain a PAL or TAL from the province or territory, usually issued through your institution – unless you are exempt. Quebec applicants also need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ).
- Assemble your proof of funds against the thresholds above, plus tuition and transportation.
- Complete medical and police requirements if they apply to your country of residence or intended activity.
- Apply online through your IRCC secure account, pay the fees and submit your receipt.
- Give biometrics at a visa application centre if requested.
- Respond promptly to requests for additional documents, and check processing times for your country regularly.
Apply as early as your institution allows. Under a capped system, timing matters more than it used to. Our step-by-step guide for international students walks through the sequence in more detail.
Working While You Study and After Graduation
A study permit can authorise part-time work off campus during academic sessions and full-time work during scheduled breaks, subject to conditions printed on the permit. On-campus work and co-op or internship placements are governed by separate rules – co-op and internship components generally require a co-op work permit in addition to the study permit.
Because work-hour limits have changed more than once in recent years, verify the current cap against your permit conditions and IRCC’s guidance rather than relying on older articles. Our pages on working while you study and internships and co-op programmes cover the mechanics.
After graduation, a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) remains the main route to Canadian work experience. Eligibility depends on the level and field of study and on the institution, and the rules have tightened – see our Post-Graduation Work Permit guide for the current criteria.
From Study Permit to Permanent Residence
Canadian study followed by Canadian work experience remains one of the strongest routes to permanent residence, and the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan explicitly prioritises transitioning people already in Canada. Under the Comprehensive Ranking System, a Canadian post-secondary credential is worth 15 or 30 additional points, and Canadian work experience adds up to 80 core points plus skill transferability points.
The main routes are the Canadian Experience Class, provincial nominee streams aimed at graduates, and – for francophone graduates outside Quebec – the francophone pathways supported by rising French-speaking admission targets. Note that arranged-employment CRS points were removed in March 2025, so a post-graduation job offer no longer boosts your score directly. See how to apply for permanent residence after study in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many study permits will Canada issue in 2026?
IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026, comprising 155,000 for newly arriving students and 253,000 extensions for current and returning students. That is seven per cent below the 2025 target of 437,000 and sixteen per cent below the 2024 target of 485,000.
Do master’s and PhD students need a provincial attestation letter?
No. As of January 1, 2026, master’s and doctoral students enrolled at a public designated learning institution do not need to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter with their study permit application. The exemption applies to public DLIs; students at private institutions still need an attestation letter.
How much money do I need to show for a Canada study permit?
For applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025, a single applicant outside Quebec must show $22,895 for living expenses for the first year, excluding tuition and transportation. The figure rises with family size – $28,502 for two people and $35,040 for three. Quebec sets its own amounts.
Is the Student Direct Stream still available?
No. IRCC closed the Student Direct Stream, along with Nigeria Student Express, in November 2024. All study permit applications are now processed through the regular stream. A guaranteed investment certificate is still accepted as proof of funds, but it no longer results in faster processing.
How many application spaces are available under the 2026 cap?
A total of 309,670 study permit application spaces are available in 2026 for applicants who require an attestation letter. Ontario has the largest allocation at 104,780, followed by Quebec at 93,069, British Columbia at 32,596 and Alberta at 32,271. Each province distributes its spaces among its own institutions.
Can I work in Canada on a study permit?
Most study permits authorise part-time off-campus work during academic sessions and full-time work during scheduled breaks, with the conditions printed on the permit itself. Co-op or internship placements that form a required part of your programme generally need a separate co-op work permit. Always check the conditions on your own permit.
