Canada introduced revised study permit rules in February 2026, easing application requirements and helping international students navigate the process more smoothly.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada released new instructions on February 6, 2026, to guide officers who review study permit applications. The updated rules bring welcome relief for international students, especially those enrolled in joint programs that involve more than one school or province.
The changes apply to applications received in 2026 and aim to make the process easier to understand and manage.
Under the new instructions, students in joint programs now need only one provincial or territorial attestation letter, known as a PAL or TAL. This rule applies even when a program includes more than one designated learning institution or requires study in different provinces or territories.
Earlier rules required students to collect separate letters from each school and each province involved. That process often caused delays and confusion. The new approach removes that burden and speeds up applications.
The updated instructions confirm an earlier decision that benefits master’s and doctoral students. Those studying at publicly funded schools do not need a PAL or TAL at all. Officials also clarified that they treat master’s and doctoral studies as the same level of education.
This change offers certainty to graduate students who worried about extra paperwork when moving between programs.
Rules that stay the same
While some steps became simpler, other requirements remain in place. Students who apply to restore their status must still submit a new PAL or TAL. Visiting students, including visiting graduate students, also need one because they do not qualify for exchange exemptions.
Students who renew a valid study permit to change programs do not need a new letter if they stay at the same school and level of study.
The new instructions also explain which vocational programs in Quebec qualify for PAL or TAL exemptions. These include vocational diplomas, specialization attestations, and training certificates tied to skilled and semi-skilled trades.
Students attending Quebec’s colleges of general and professional teaching, known as CEGEPs, still need a PAL or TAL. Quebec students can meet this requirement through a Quebec Acceptance Certificate issued by Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration.
Canada introduced the PAL and TAL requirement in January 2024 to control the number of study permit applications. The federal government acted after rapid growth in international students increased pressure on housing and public services.
Since October 2024, Canada has also set yearly limits on international student admissions. The target for 2026 stands at 155,000, a sharp drop from 305,900 in 2025. Between January and November 2025, Canada admitted 105,870 new study permit holders.
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