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The Canada study permit cap for 2027 has not been announced yet. A summary published on 3 August 2026 by Redim says Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) plans to set the next national cap and the provincial allocations in fall 2026. That makes the next few weeks important for anyone planning to start a Canadian programme in 2027.
In brief
- What is known
- Why the PAL is the key document
- Who skips the PAL
- The 2026 numbers
- How to plan for the 2027 intake
- Study permit cap questions
What is known about the Canada study permit cap for 2026
The 2026 cap allows up to 408,000 study permits, according to Redim. Of those, 155,000 are for new arrivals and 253,000 are for extensions. The total is 7% below the 2025 target of 437,000 and 16% below the 2024 target of 485,000. Provinces and territories received 309,670 application spaces, because some applications will be refused.
The same summary reports that new international student arrivals fell 61% in 2025, a drop of 177,595 people. It also says the number of study permit holders fell 29%, from 928,430 at the end of 2024 to 691,215 at the end of 2025. Redim is a secondary source, so check IRCC for the official figures.
Why the provincial attestation letter is the key document
Most applicants need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) with their study permit application. The IRCC page on attestation letters says the province where you plan to study issues it, and your school helps you obtain it. The letter confirms you have been assigned a space. It is tied to one school and must be valid when you apply.
The timing rule matters for 2027. IRCC says a PAL is generally valid until its expiry or 31 December of the cap year in which it was issued, whichever is earlier. You cannot use a PAL from a previous cap year. The IRCC page contains no information about the 2027 cap year yet. A reasonable reading is that students applying in 2027 will need a letter issued under the 2027 allocations, but confirm this with IRCC once it publishes.
Who does not need an attestation letter
IRCC lists several exemptions. They include primary and secondary students, students in master’s or doctoral programmes at public designated learning institutions since 1 January 2026, and holders of a Global Affairs Canada scholarship. Students in Quebec generally need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate instead. You need a new letter if you change schools, which has applied since 22 January 2025. You do not need one to extend at the same school and level of study.
The costs and rules students ask about
Redim lists a $150 study permit fee and generally $85 for biometrics when required. It also reports first-year living costs of $22,895 outside Quebec, excluding tuition and transport, adjusted each 1 September. Post-graduation work permit language rules also apply: CLB/NCLC 7 for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates, and level 5 for college graduates. Redim adds that the college route has a field-of-study requirement. Confirm every figure on IRCC’s website before you budget.
How to plan for a 2027 start while the cap is unknown
Consider a hypothetical student, Linh, from Hanoi. She wants a one-year college programme in Ontario starting in September 2027. She has no master’s-level exemption, so she needs a PAL. She should shortlist schools now and ask each one when it expects to receive PAL allocations. She should also keep her funds proof and language results current. Linh is an illustration, not a real applicant.
A master’s applicant at a public institution may avoid the letter altogether. Compare that with Australia, where fees and visa rules are also changing, in our guide to Australia’s student visa reform. Canada’s labour-side rules are moving too, as our report on the work permit freeze in six regions shows. To check your own route, use the visa eligibility checker.
Integrity checks that sit behind the cap
Redim also reports tighter oversight of schools. IRCC found more than 10,000 potentially fraudulent acceptance letters in 2024 and about 4,900 in 2025. Designated learning institutions must report enrolment twice a year, within 60 days, and answer ad hoc requests within 10 days. Since 1 April 2026, students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for a placement that is part of the programme. Redim says this does not increase the number of authorised workers.
Study permit cap questions
Has the 2027 Canada study permit cap been announced?
No. Redim reports that IRCC plans to set the next national cap and the provincial allocations in fall 2026.
What is the 2026 cap?
Up to 408,000 study permits, including 155,000 for new arrivals and 253,000 for extensions, according to Redim.
Do I need an attestation letter?
Usually. IRCC lists exemptions, including master’s and doctoral students at public institutions since 1 January 2026.
Can I reuse a PAL from last year?
No. IRCC says you cannot use a PAL issued in a previous cap year.
What if I change schools?
You need a new PAL. IRCC says this has applied since 22 January 2025.
Sources
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — Provincial attestation letter and territorial attestation letter. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents/provincial-attestation-letter.html
- Redim — Canada’s study permit cap is becoming a permanent planning system (3 August 2026). https://redim.ca/canada-s-study-permit-cap-is-becoming-a-permanent-planning-system/
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