Study permit planning in a lower-volume environment

The 2026 cap in plain terms

For 2026, IRCC has set 309,670 study permit application spaces under its national cap on international student intake, and expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in total — roughly 155,000 for newly arriving students and about 253,000 extensions for students already in Canada.

The Provincial and Territorial Attestation Letter system

Ministerial Instructions effective for study permit applications from January 1 through December 31, 2026 confirm that most applicants must include a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) issued by the province or territory where they plan to study; without one, IRCC returns the application rather than processing it. Each province allocates its own share of the national cap, generally issuing letters to applicants who already hold a letter of acceptance from an eligible institution.

Who is exempt from the attestation requirement in 2026

As of January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at a public designated learning institution are exempt, along with primary and secondary school students, certain priority or vulnerable applicant groups, and existing study permit holders extending at the same institution and level of study. Most prospective undergraduate and college-level applicants at a new institution should expect to need a valid attestation letter.

What prospective students should do now

Because provincial allocations and attestation processes vary, confirm with your specific province and institution whether a letter is required for your program. Given the national cap limits total spaces, applying as early as possible once you have an offer of admission is worthwhile, rather than waiting until close to your intended start date.