Key takeaways
- 2026 target: 408,000 study permits (155,000 for new arrivals and 253,000 extensions), down 7% from 437,000 in 2025
- Most college and undergraduate students need a PAL/TAL from their province before they apply
- From January 1, 2026, master’s and doctoral students at public schools do not need a PAL/TAL
- K-12 students, students extending at the same school and level, and a few other groups are also exempt
- A PAL/TAL issued in 2026 is valid until December 31, 2026 and cannot be reused after a refusal
What is the study permit cap?
Since 2024, Canada limits the number of study permits it issues each year. This limit is often called the international student cap. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sets a national number, then gives each province and territory a share.
For 2026, IRCC expects to issue 408,000 study permits (IRCC notice, November 25, 2025):
- 155,000 for new students arriving in Canada
- 253,000 for students already in Canada who extend their permits
This is 7% lower than the 2025 target of 437,000 and 16% lower than the 2024 target of 485,000.
The cap does not mean there is a fixed number of seats at each school. It limits how many applications IRCC will accept for processing from students who need a PAL/TAL. Once a province uses its share, its schools cannot issue more letters that year.
How the 408,000 permits are split
| Group | 2026 permits | PAL/TAL needed? |
|---|---|---|
| College, undergraduate and other students who need a letter | 180,000 | Yes |
| Master’s and doctoral students at public schools | 49,000 | No (from January 1, 2026) |
| Kindergarten to grade 12 students | 115,000 | No |
| Other exempt applicants | 64,000 | No |
Source: IRCC, 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap. The four groups add up to 408,000.
Who needs a PAL or TAL in 2026?
A provincial attestation letter (PAL) or territorial attestation letter (TAL) is a letter from the province or territory where you will study. It confirms you are counted inside its share of the cap. IRCC says a PAL/TAL is “usually required” for a study permit.
You usually need one if you are applying for a new study permit for:
- A college diploma or certificate, including a graduate certificate (post-graduate diploma)
- A bachelor’s degree
- A master’s or doctoral program at a private school
- A language program or other post-secondary program at a designated learning institution (DLI)
You also need a new PAL/TAL if you change schools (since January 22, 2025) or, in most cases, change your level of study. Moving from undergraduate to a graduate program at a public DLI does not need a new letter. Each family member who applies for their own study permit needs their own letter.
Who does not need a PAL/TAL
As of October 2026, IRCC lists these exemptions. You must show proof that you fit one.
By type of program
- Preschool, primary and secondary school (up to grade 12)
- A master’s or doctoral degree program at a public DLI (from January 1, 2026)
- Quebec vocational training leading to a DVS, AVS or STC
- Federally designated military colleges
- Schools in the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot, with the right documents
By your situation
- Exchange students who do not pay tuition to the Canadian school
- Global Affairs Canada scholarship recipients
- Students in Canada extending their study permit at the same school and same level
- People covered by certain crisis or family reunification public policies
- Protected persons, people with a temporary resident permit or a removal order, and some people applying for permanent residence in Canada (for example on humanitarian grounds or as a sponsored spouse)
Quebec is different. Students going to Quebec need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). Most students who are exempt from a PAL still need a CAQ.
Quick check: do I need a PAL?
- Will you study in kindergarten to grade 12? If yes, no PAL/TAL needed.
- Are you extending your permit at the same school and level? If yes, no PAL/TAL needed.
- Is your program a master’s or PhD at a public school? If yes, no PAL/TAL needed from January 1, 2026.
- Are you an exchange student, a Global Affairs Canada scholar, or in another exempt group above? If yes, no PAL/TAL needed, but keep proof.
- None of the above? You need a PAL/TAL. Ask your school how to get one.
In every case, students going to Quebec also need a CAQ.
2026 allocations by province and territory
The table shows how many permits IRCC expects to approve for PAL/TAL students in each province, and how many applications each one can support. The second number is higher because some applications are refused. IRCC based it on each province’s approval rate in 2024 and 2025.
| Province or territory | Expected permits | Application spaces |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 70,074 | 104,780 |
| Quebec | 39,474 | 93,069 |
| British Columbia | 24,786 | 32,596 |
| Alberta | 21,582 | 32,271 |
| Manitoba | 6,534 | 11,196 |
| Saskatchewan | 5,436 | 11,349 |
| Nova Scotia | 4,680 | 8,480 |
| New Brunswick | 3,726 | 8,004 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 2,358 | 5,507 |
| Prince Edward Island | 774 | 1,376 |
| Northwest Territories | 198 | 785 |
| Yukon | 198 | 257 |
| Nunavut | 180 | 0 |
| Total | 180,000 | 309,670 |
Nunavut has a small target but no application spaces, because it has no designated post-secondary schools. Each province decides how to share its spaces among its schools. In practice, this means some colleges and universities have far fewer letters than before, so popular programs can run out early.
How to get a PAL or TAL
- Get accepted. Apply to a DLI and receive a letter of acceptance.
- Ask your school. Your school usually requests the PAL/TAL from the province for you. Each province has its own process.
- Apply for your study permit. Include the PAL/TAL, your letter of acceptance and proof of funds: at least $23,448 for living costs for one person, plus first-year tuition and travel (applications from September 1, 2026, outside Quebec). Use our proof of funds calculator.
Rules to know
- A PAL/TAL issued in 2026 is valid until December 31, 2026, and must be used in the year it was issued.
- If your study permit is approved or refused, you cannot use the same PAL/TAL again. After a refusal you need a new letter.
- If IRCC returns your application without processing it and refunds the fee, you may reuse a valid PAL/TAL.
What the cap means for you
- Apply early. Schools with many applicants may use up their letters months before the term starts.
- Consider a public master’s program. It no longer needs a PAL/TAL and can lead to a 3-year post-graduation work permit. Check rules in the PGWP eligibility checker.
- Compare costs and outcomes. See college vs university and our cost of studying calculator.
- Think about the long term. Fewer permits also means fewer graduates competing for PR, but the PR targets are lower too. Read from study permit to PR.