Canada has tightened its student rules every year since 2024, and the 2026 changes cut both ways. The country is accepting fewer study permit applications overall, and living-cost requirements went up again in September. But master’s and PhD students at public universities have just been freed from the cap and the extra provincial paperwork.
This guide explains how the Canada study permit works in 2026, who needs a provincial attestation letter, how much money you must show, and the rules on work and family that every applicant should know before choosing Canada.
Table of Contents
The 2026 study permit cap
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has set a limit of 309,670 study permit applications that it will accept for processing in 2026, and expects to issue up to about 408,000 study permits in total, including renewals and exempt groups. The cap counts applications accepted for processing, not approvals. Once a province’s share is used up, further applications that need an attestation letter are returned, along with the fee.
The cap is shared between provinces. Ontario has the largest allocation, followed by Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta.
Provincial attestation letters (PAL)
Most applicants for college and undergraduate study must include a provincial or territorial attestation letter, known as a PAL or TAL. It confirms that the province has a place for you under its share of the cap, and you usually get it through your college or university after accepting an offer.
The big change for 2026: since 1 January 2026, master’s and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions do not need an attestation letter and are exempt from the cap. Students at private institutions still need one.
This makes Canada noticeably more accessible for graduate students in 2026 than it was in 2024 or 2025.
Proof of funds for a Canada study permit
You must show that you can pay your first year’s tuition and travel, plus living costs. For applications submitted on or after 1 September 2026, the living-cost amount for a single student outside Quebec is CA$23,448, up from CA$22,895. The amount rises for each family member who comes with you.
IRCC updates the figure every year on 1 September, and many websites still quote the old amount. Quebec sets its own requirement, assessed through its separate acceptance certificate.
Acceptable evidence includes bank statements covering recent months, a Guaranteed Investment Certificate from a participating Canadian bank, an education loan, proof of scholarship, or proof of tuition already paid. Officers look closely at where the money came from, so large sudden deposits need an explanation.
Documents and fees
A typical application includes:
- a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI);
- a PAL or TAL, unless you are exempt;
- proof of funds;
- a valid passport;
- a study plan explaining your choice of course and your goals;
- biometrics and, where required, a medical exam and police certificate.
The application fee is CA$150, plus CA$85 for biometrics. Canada closed its faster Student Direct Stream in 2024, so all applicants now go through the regular process. Apply as early as possible after receiving your acceptance letter.
How to apply, step by step
- Get a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution.
- Request your attestation letter through your institution, unless you are a master’s or PhD student at a public DLI.
- Gather proof of funds that covers tuition, travel and the living-cost amount.
- Write your study plan.
- Apply online through your IRCC account and pay the fees.
- Give biometrics at a visa application centre when asked.
- Complete a medical exam if your country or programme requires one.
- Wait for a decision, and travel only once your approval letter has been issued.
Processing times differ by country and season, so apply as soon as you have your acceptance and attestation letters.
Writing a strong study plan
The study plan is your chance to answer an officer’s main questions before they ask them. Explain:
- why you chose this programme and this institution;
- how it builds on your previous education or work;
- why you want to study in Canada rather than at home;
- how you will pay for it;
- what you plan to do after you graduate, and why it makes sense to return home.
Keep it specific and honest. A short, clear, personal study plan is more convincing than a long one copied from a template, and officers see many identical templates every week.
An illustrative cost example
Say you are a single student accepted onto a college programme in Ontario with first-year tuition of CA$30,000. For a Canada study permit application made after 1 September 2026, you would need to show about:
- first-year tuition: CA$30,000;
- living costs: CA$23,448;
- travel: a reasonable estimate for your flights.
That is well over CA$53,000 before travel. Tuition varies widely between programmes and institutions, so use the figure on your own acceptance letter, and keep the evidence of funds clear and easy to follow.
Working while studying in Canada
Eligible international students can work off campus for up to 24 hours a week during academic sessions, and full-time during scheduled breaks. On-campus work has fewer restrictions. Work income can help with living costs, but it cannot replace the proof of funds required at the application stage.
Bringing a spouse or partner
Open work permits for spouses and partners of international students are now limited mainly to those of master’s and doctoral students, plus students in some professional programmes. Spouses of most college and undergraduate students no longer qualify. Check the current rules before planning to move as a family.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
The PGWP lets graduates stay and work in Canada, for up to three years depending on the length of the programme. Since 2024, many college graduates must have studied in a field linked to labour shortages to qualify, while university bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates are generally exempt from that field requirement. Language test results are also required. Check that your chosen programme is PGWP-eligible before you accept an offer.
Is Canada still a good choice in 2026?
For graduate students, the answer is more positive than it has been for two years. Master’s and PhD students at public universities skip the cap and the attestation letter, and still have access to spouse work permits and the PGWP.
For college and undergraduate students, Canada is harder than it was: fewer places, attestation letters, field-of-study rules for the PGWP and no spouse work permits. It is still possible, but plan carefully, and compare costs with other destinations in our guide to the cheapest countries to study abroad.
Common reasons for refusal
- Insufficient or poorly explained funds.
- A study plan that does not explain why this course, in Canada, fits your background.
- A course that looks like a step backwards from your previous education without a clear reason.
- Doubts that you will leave Canada at the end of your studies.
- Missing documents, such as a required attestation letter.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for a Canada study permit in 2026?
For applications from 1 September 2026, CA$23,448 for a single student outside Quebec, plus first-year tuition and travel.
Do master’s students need a PAL in 2026?
Not at public designated learning institutions. Since 1 January 2026, master’s and PhD students there are exempt.
How many hours can students work?
Up to 24 hours a week off campus during academic sessions, and full-time during scheduled breaks.
Is the Student Direct Stream still available?
No. It closed in 2024, and all applicants use the regular process.
Can my spouse work in Canada?
Only in limited cases, mainly if you are a master’s or doctoral student, or in certain professional programmes.
You will usually need an English test for admission; see our comparison of IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL vs Duolingo. Official guidance is on the Government of Canada study permit page.
