Canada continues to implement a national cap on international student study permits to manage growth in temporary residents and focus on economic and social priorities. For 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will issue up to 408,000 study permits, including new arrivals and extensions, with a carefully allocated share assigned to provinces and territories for students requiring provincial attestation (PAL/TAL).
Key Highlights of the 2026 Cap
- Total study permits expected: 408,000 (including new and returning students)
- Permits exempt from PAL/TAL:
- Master’s and doctoral students at public institutions: 49,000
- Primary and secondary (K–12) students: 115,000
- Other exempt applicants: 64,000
- Permits requiring PAL/TAL (subject to provincial allocation): 180,000
- Application spaces available for PAL/TAL-required students: 309,670 (more than permits expected, accounting for refusals)
Provincial Allocations for PAL/TAL-Required Study Permits in 2026
These numbers represent how many study permits IRCC plans to issue to PAL/TAL-required international students by province and territory in 2026.
- Ontario: 70,074
- Quebec: 39,474
- British Columbia: 24,786
- Alberta: 21,582
- Manitoba: 6,534
- Nova Scotia: 4,680
- Saskatchewan: 5,436
- New Brunswick: 3,726
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 2,358
- Northwest Territories: 198
- Yukon: 198
- Nunavut: 180
- Prince Edward Island: 774
Application Spaces Allocated by Province and Territory for PAL/TAL-Required Students
The following numbers are the maximum number of applications IRCC will accept for processing. This allocation is higher than the permit issuance targets to account for refusals and ensure provinces can meet their expected permit numbers by processing enough applications.
- Ontario: 104,780
- Quebec: 93,069
- British Columbia: 32,596
- Alberta: 32,271
- Manitoba: 11,196
- Nova Scotia: 8,480
- Saskatchewan: 11,349
- New Brunswick: 8,004
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 5,507
- Northwest Territories: 785
- Yukon: 257
- Nunavut: 0 (no eligible programs)
- Prince Edward Island: 1,376
What These Allocations Mean
- Ontario receives the largest share of permits and application spaces, reflecting its large population and demand for study permits.
- Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta also have significant allocations, with strict limits reflecting tighter control measures.
- Smaller provinces and territories have much lower allocations, often proportional to their population and DLI presence.
- These caps mean increased competition for international student permits in high-demand provinces, especially for programs requiring attestation.
- Exemptions for master’s/doctoral and K–12 students offer alternative routes outside the capped system, which may influence student choices.
- Institutions and students must plan carefully due to reduced permit availability compared to previous years, with a 7% reduction from 2025 and a 16% reduction from 2024.