Many headlines say Canada cut study permits by 65 percent for 2026. The official numbers tell a different story. Canada set a 2026 target of 155,000 new international students, about 49 percent fewer than the 305,900 planned for 2025, and a total of 408,000 permits once extensions are counted. This guide explains the real figures, who is affected and what Indian students can do.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the 2026 cap on 25 November 2025: up to 408,000 study permits in total, made up of 155,000 for new arrivals and 253,000 for extensions
- That is 7 percent below the 2025 target of 437,000
- New-arrival targets then fall to 150,000 in 2027 and 2028
- Last checked on 8 October 2026.
How Many Study Permits Is Canada Issuing in 2026?
IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026. Of these, 155,000 are for students arriving for the first time and 253,000 are extensions for current and returning students. The total is 7 percent lower than the 2025 target of 437,000 and 16 percent lower than the 2024 target of 485,000.
| Year 2026 comparison | New arrivals target | Total permits target |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Not compared here | 485,000 |
| 2025 | 305,900 | 437,000 |
| 2026 | 155,000 | 408,000 |
| 2027 and 2028 | 150,000 each year | Not stated in sources |
The new-arrival figure is the one that matters for a first-time applicant from India. It fell from 305,900 in 2025 to 155,000 in 2026, which is a cut of about 49 percent.
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The cut to new arrivals is about 49 percent, going from 305,900 in 2025 to 155,000 in 2026. The 65 percent figure comes from early reports that compared the new number with the 437,000 total, which also counts extensions. University Affairs corrected its own story after publishing it. The 7 percent total cut is the like-for-like figure.
When you compare numbers, check what is being counted. 437,000 includes extensions, while 155,000 counts only new arrivals, so dividing one by the other overstates the cut. This is why different websites quote different percentages.
Who Needs a Provincial Attestation Letter in 2026?
Most new undergraduate and college applicants still need a provincial or territorial attestation letter, called a PAL or TAL, before they apply. IRCC set aside 180,000 permits for students who need one, with 309,670 application spaces. Master's and doctoral students at public universities no longer need a PAL from 1 January 2026.
- PAL or TAL needed: most undergraduate, diploma and college applicants.
- No PAL or TAL needed: master's and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions (49,000 permits set aside).
- No PAL or TAL needed: school-level students (115,000 permits), certain priority groups, and students extending a permit at the same institution and level of study.
The 309,670 figure is the maximum number of PAL or TAL applications IRCC will accept for processing, which is higher than the 180,000 permits it plans to issue because some applications are refused. Each province then shares its spaces among its colleges and universities.
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Indian nationals held 36.5 percent of Canadian study permit holders in 2024, or 188,465 people, according to IRCC data reported by The Federal, which calls them the most affected group. Fewer new places means more competition for each college seat and each attestation letter. Master's and doctoral applicants have a clearer route because they are exempt.
According to IRCC figures reported by The Federal, the number of study permit holders in Canada fell from over 1 million in early 2024 to roughly 725,000 by September 2025. With new-arrival targets of 150,000 in both 2027 and 2028, plan on the cap staying in place beyond this year.
What Should Indian Students Do Instead of Waiting?
Decide by level of study. Master's and doctoral applicants can keep Canada as a main choice because they do not need a PAL. Undergraduate and diploma applicants should ask each college about its PAL allocation first and prepare a second country in parallel, so one policy change does not delay a whole year.
- Ask each Canadian college how many attestation letters it has and when it issues them, before you pay an application fee.
- Shortlist two or three alternatives that fit your course and budget, and compare their rules and costs side by side.
- Keep your documents, IELTS or other test results and finances ready, so you can switch quickly if one route closes.
Which Other Countries Can Indian Students Consider?
Germany, Ireland and New Zealand are common alternatives for Indian students, though each has its own costs, work rules and application dates. Compare them on total cost, post-study work options and how long the visa takes, rather than choosing on one policy headline. Check each country's official site before paying a deposit.
Our country guides cover the details for each destination, and the same advice applies everywhere: confirm the current rules on the official government site before you pay a deposit. This guide is general information, not immigration advice.
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