Canada is continuing to limit the number of new international students it accepts. Here is what the 2026 numbers mean for you, in plain language.
The headline numbers
- Canada plans to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026, counting both new students and extensions for students already in Canada.
- About 155,000 of those are for newly arriving students; the rest, about 253,000, are extensions.
- That target is roughly 7% lower than in 2025 and 16% lower than in 2024.
- IRCC will accept up to 309,670 applications for processing from students who need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL). The number is higher than the permit target because some applications are refused.
Why Canada is doing this
The cap was introduced in 2024. The number of study permit holders in Canada fell from over one million in January 2024 to about 725,000 by September 2025, and the government wants temporary residents to make up less than 5% of the population by the end of 2027.
Who is exempt
- Master’s and doctoral students at public institutions (new for 2026)
- Students in kindergarten to grade 12
- Students already in Canada extending their permit at the same school and the same level of study
- Certain priority and vulnerable groups named by the government
What it means for you
If you need a PAL, your spot depends on your province’s allocation and your school’s share of it. Apply early in the intake cycle, and consider whether a graduate program or a less crowded province fits your goals.
Official source: IRCC, 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap.