What is changing under Canada's 2026 study-permit cap, and will applications be more competitive?

On November 25, 2025, IRCC announced that Canada expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026: 155,000 for new international students and 253,000 extensions for current students. That is 7% below the 2025 target of 437,000 and 16% below 2024's 485,000. Since the policy was introduced in 2024, the number of people holding valid study permits has declined from more than one million in January 2024 to about 725,000 in September 2025. Most post-secondary applicants require a PAL or TAL and are therefore directly affected by the cap; the impact is generally more pronounced than for K–12 students.

What to verify

• Confirm that the school and program meet the current DLI, PAL/TAL, PGWP and other applicable requirements.
• Make sure the admission offer, funding, study plan, education or work history, and post-graduation plan form a credible and consistent account.
• Permit targets, processing times and historical approval rates never guarantee an individual approval.
• Rules, forms, amounts and document requirements can change before submission; use the requirements in force on the day you apply.

Planning advice

A strong application is not simply a large bundle of documents. Each document should address a clear eligibility requirement or a potential concern. Before applying, check every item against the IRCC checklist and keep a dated record of the rules and webpages used.