Some Postgraduate Students Exempt From 2026 Canada Study Permit Caps

The Canadian government has said that Masters and PhD students enrolling at public universities will not be included in the study permit caps from 1 January 2026 and won’t need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL).

The caps are also set to be lowered to 155,000 in 2026 and 150,000 in 2027 and 2028. The 2026 caps will only apply to new students, so existing students applying for permits and extensions will not be required to meet these thresholds. However, you might still be counted under previous caps.

What does this mean for you?

Simply put — if you’re applying to study a Masters or PhD at a public university in Canada and are starting your studies on and after 1 January 2026, you:

• don’t need to attach a PAL/TAL with your study permit application;
• won’t be counted as part of the new caps.

If you’ve got a PAL/TAL issued between 22 January 2025 and 31 December 2025, you might still be considered under the previous 2025 caps, so check with your university before applying.

Who might still be affected?

You might still be included in the caps if:

• you’re applying to a university which is not an official designated public learning institution;
• you’re studying a postgraduate certificate or diploma.

Check with your university if you’re unsure about where you stand. If your course falls under the cap, you’ll need to apply for your PAL/TAL before you apply for a study permit. You can apply for one through your university.

A history of the Canadian student permit caps

There’s been an update on the study permits caps so often in the last few years, here’s a little timeline and history for you:

• The first caps were introduced in 2024. At the time, Masters and PhD students were not affected.
• However, in the second year, 2025 caps included all Masters and PhD students.
• For 2026, the government has eased some rules by excluding Masters and PhD students at public institutions from the cap. However, they’ve also said that the caps will be tightening again for 2026, 2027 and 2028.