Canada Sets 2026 International Student Cap – With Fewer Permits and Stricter Provincial Limits
On this page you will find:
- Canada’s 2026 study permit targets
- Full PAL/TAL exemption rules
- National study permit breakdown
- Complete provincial allocation tables
- Impact on students and institutions
Canada Tightens International Student Numbers Again for 2026
IRCC has released its 2026 targets for the national international student cap, and the message is blunt: student numbers are dropping again. The government wants to reduce the temporary resident population and sees international students as central to that effort.
Canada had more than 1 million study permit holders in January 2024. By September 2025, that number had fallen to about 725,000. IRCC plans to keep pushing this number down.
The 2026 target is 408,000 study permits. This includes both new arrivals and existing students renewing their permits. It is lower than both 2024 and 2025.
IRCC presents this as “sustainability,” but the intent is clear. Fewer students, tighter oversight, and less room for institutions that relied on international tuition to stay afloat.
A Cap Designed to Shrink Canada’s Temporary Population
Canada wants the temporary resident population below 5 per cent of the national total by the end of 2027. The cap on study permits is one of the tools used to reach that target.
The 2026 issuance target of 408,000 represents:
- 7 per cent fewer permits than 2025
- 16 per cent fewer permits than 2024
IRCC also expects provinces to enforce stricter rules on the institutions they approve.
PAL/TAL Exemptions for 2026
A major change for 2026 is that not all students will need provincial attestation letters (PALs) or territorial attestation letters (TALs).
PAL/TAL is not required for:
- master’s and doctoral students at public DLIs
- primary and secondary school students
- certain federal priority and vulnerable groups
- existing study permit holders extending at the same DLI and same level
Graduate-level students benefit the most from this shift. Ottawa wants to attract more researchers and advanced talent and is cutting bureaucracy for that group.
National 2026 Study Permit Targets
IRCC expects to issue the following number of permits in 2026:
2026 national target (new arrivals and extensions)
| Student cohort | Expected study permits (2026) |
| Master’s and doctoral students enrolling at public DLIs (PAL/TAL-exempt) | 49,000 |
| Primary and secondary school students (PAL/TAL-exempt) | 115,000 |
| Other PAL/TAL-exempt applicants | 64,000 |
| PAL/TAL-required applicants | 180,000 |
| Total | 408,000 |
The 180,000 PAL/TAL-required permits are the portion governed by the provincial and territorial allocation system.
Provincial Targets for PAL/TAL-Required Permits
These numbers represent how many actual permits IRCC expects to issue in each province for PAL/TAL-required students in 2026.
2026 study permit target for PAL/TAL-required cohorts
| Province or territory | 2026 PAL/TAL-required study permit target |
| Alberta | 21,582 |
| British Columbia | 24,786 |
| Manitoba | 6,534 |
| New Brunswick | 3,726 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 2,358 |
| Northwest Territories | 198 |
| Nova Scotia | 4,680 |
| Nunavut | 180 |
| Ontario | 70,074 |
| Prince Edward Island | 774 |
| Quebec | 39,474 |
| Saskatchewan | 5,436 |
| Yukon | 198 |
| Total | 180,000 |
These targets reflect the number of permits IRCC intends to approve, not the number of applications it will accept.
Full 2026 Provincial and Territorial Allocations (Application Spaces)
Because many applications are refused, IRCC allocates more application spaces than expected permits. These allocations determine how many applications each province may submit for processing under the cap.
2026 allocations for PAL/TAL-required applications
(based on average provincial approval rates in 2024–25)
| Province or territory | 2026 allocation (application spaces) |
| Alberta | 32,271 |
| British Columbia | 32,596 |
| Manitoba | 11,196 |
| New Brunswick | 8,004 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 5,507 |
| Northwest Territories | 785 |
| Nova Scotia | 8,480 |
| Nunavut | 0 |
| Ontario | 104,780 |
| Prince Edward Island | 1,376 |
| Quebec | 93,069 |
| Saskatchewan | 11,349 |
| Yukon | 257 |
| Total | 309,670 |
Nunavut receives no allocation because it has no PAL/TAL-eligible programs requiring study permits under this system.
What These Changes Mean for Students and Institutions
The 2026 cap keeps the pressure on institutions, especially in Ontario and British Columbia. These provinces historically admitted disproportionate numbers of international students and now face restricted growth.
Key impacts include:
- More competition for limited undergraduate spaces
- Continued stress on colleges that depend heavily on international fees
- A clear federal preference for graduate-level talent
- Higher refusal rates likely in provinces with high demand
- Less room for private-sector expansion in the student market
Canada is moving from volume-driven growth to targeted, controlled intake.
International Student Targets: Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Canada continuing to reduce international student numbers?
Canada aims to reduce its temporary resident population to below 5 per cent by late 2027. International students make up a major portion of temporary residents, so IRCC is cutting study permits to slow growth and stabilise housing, employment and institutional capacity.
What makes master’s and PhD students exempt from PAL/TAL rules?
IRCC sees graduate students as contributing more directly to research, innovation and economic development. Removing the PAL/TAL requirement speeds up applications and helps Canada compete for top global talent.
Why does Ontario have the largest allocation?
Ontario has the largest population and the largest number of designated learning institutions. It also had high application volumes in 2024 and 2025, which influenced the allocation formula based on approval rates.
Will it be harder for undergraduate applicants to get a study permit?
Yes. Undergraduate students still need PAL/TALs, face stricter provincial limits and must compete for fewer application spaces. Refusal rates may increase in high-demand provinces.
Could study permit numbers increase again after 2026?
IRCC has not committed to increasing future numbers. The government intends to meet its 2027 population target first. Any future growth depends on policy changes and the success of reforms to the International Student Program.
