The 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap have been released by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 408,000 study permits are expected to be issued in 2026 by the department, including 155,000 permits for new international students and 253,000 permits for students who are returning and also applying for study permit extensions. This is a 7% reduction from the 2025 target.
Of the total study permits 180,000 will be allocated to applicants who require a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL). Ontario received the largest allocation of 70,074 permits, as the allocations were distributed among the provinces and territories primarily based on their populations.
IRCC has also introduced a significant policy change effective January 1, 2026. Master's and doctoral students enrolled at public designated learning institutions will no longer need to obtain a PAL or TAL when applying for a study permit. Further, IRCC will accept up to 309,670 applications from PAL/TAL-required applicants to account for expected refusals.
These measures are to ensure a proper balance of the intake of international students with the broader immigration objectives of Canada, maintaining quality education and institutional capacity.
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