Canada Study Permit 2026: Cap, PAL, Funds and PGWP Rules

You've been accepted to a Canadian college or university, or you're about to apply. Now you need a Canada study permit, and the rules have changed a lot since 2024. There's a national cap, a higher proof of funds figure, and tighter rules for working after you graduate.

Here's every stage, from your letter of acceptance to your post-graduation work permit. Figures are as of September 2026, so confirm them with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) before you apply.

What documents do you need for a Canada study permit?

Every applicant needs four core documents: a letter of acceptance, a provincial or territorial attestation letter (unless you're exempt), proof of identity, and proof of financial support.

Your letter of acceptance must come from a designated learning institution (DLI). IRCC now asks your school to confirm the letter is genuine. If the school doesn't respond in time, IRCC returns your application and refunds your fee.

You may also need a medical exam, a police certificate or a letter explaining your plans. Quebec students need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) instead of a PAL.

The 2026 study permit cap and PAL/TAL rules

Canada limits how many study permit applications it accepts each year. For 2026, IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits: 155,000 to newly arriving students and 253,000 extensions for students already here.

Students who need an attestation letter compete for 309,670 application spaces, shared among the provinces and territories. Each province passes its share to schools, which then issue provincial or territorial attestation letters (PAL/TAL). You usually get one after you accept your offer and pay some or all of your tuition deposit.

Who doesn't need a PAL in 2026?

• Master's and doctoral students at public DLIs. This exemption is new and covers degree-granting graduate programs starting on or after January 1, 2026. Graduate students at private schools still need a PAL.
• Kindergarten to grade 12 students.
• Current study permit holders extending at the same school and level of study.
• Certain priority groups named by the Government of Canada.

A PAL or TAL issued in 2026 is valid until December 31, 2026, and you can't reuse one from an earlier cap year. You must upload it with your application, not afterward.

Proof of funds, fees and the cost of studying in Canada

IRCC raised its cost-of-living amounts for applications made on or after September 1, 2026. Outside Quebec, you must show the amounts below on top of your first year's tuition and your travel costs.

Quebec sets its own amounts. If your program lasts longer than a year, you should also explain how you'll pay for the rest of it.

Accepted evidence includes bank statements, an education loan, scholarship letters, a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) and letters from a financial supporter. Check your visa office's instructions too.

What happened to the Student Direct Stream?

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) ended on November 8, 2024. Everyone now applies through the regular stream, whatever their country.

A sample first-year budget

Here's what a single student outside Quebec might budget, as of September 2026. Government fees come from IRCC's fee list. Tuition figures are Statistics Canada's 2025/2026 averages, the latest it has published.

Then add a language test, flights, a rental deposit and a winter coat. If you're moving savings from home, compare bank and transfer fees first.

Health insurance for international students

Coverage depends on your province, so ask your school which plan international students use.

In British Columbia, students with a study permit of six months or more must enroll in the Medical Services Plan (MSP). Coverage starts after a wait of the rest of your arrival month plus two months. After that you pay a $75 monthly international student health fee, and you should carry private insurance during the wait.

In Alberta, you may qualify for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan if you hold a 12-month study permit for an Alberta school and will live there for at least 12 months. Rules elsewhere vary, so check with your school and province before you arrive.

Can you work while studying in Canada?

Yes, if you meet the conditions. As of September 2026, you can work up to 24 hours a week off campus during academic sessions, and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks such as summer and winter holidays.

To qualify, you must be a full-time student at a DLI, in a program of at least six months that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate. You also need to have started your program, have work conditions printed on your permit, and hold a Social Insurance Number.

Working more than allowed breaks your permit conditions, so track your hours.

Can your spouse work in Canada?

Only in some cases. Since January 21, 2025, your spouse or common-law partner can usually get an open work permit only if you're studying in:

• a master's program of 16 months or longer
• a doctoral program
• certain professional degrees, such as medicine, law, nursing, education, engineering, pharmacy and dentistry
• some eligible provincial pilot programs

Spouses of college students and of most undergraduates no longer qualify based on their partner's studies.

PGWP eligibility: working in Canada after graduation

A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) is an open work permit for eligible graduates. You must apply within 180 days of getting confirmation that you finished your program, and how long it lasts depends on the length of your program.

Language test. Most applicants now need results in all four skills from an approved test: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 if you studied at a university, or CLB 5 for college and other non-university programs. This applies to PGWP applications made on or after November 1, 2024.

Field of study. Bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates are exempt. If you're in another university or college program and applied for your study permit on or after November 1, 2024, your program must be linked to an occupation in long-term shortage.

A PGWP can give you Canadian work experience that counts toward permanent residence. Our Express Entry guide explains how that works.

How to apply for a Canada study permit, step by step

Say you're a 26-year-old accountant from Lagos with an offer for a two-year master's program at a public university in Alberta. Here's how your application might go.

1. Accept your offer and get your letter of acceptance. As a master's student at a public DLI, you don't need a PAL.
2. Gather proof of funds: first-year tuition plus $23,448 CAD for living costs.
3. Book a language test, since you'll likely need CLB 7 for a PGWP later.
4. Apply online and pay the $150 fee plus $85 for biometrics.
5. Give biometrics and do a medical exam if asked.
6. Plan for your spouse. A program of 16 months or longer means they may qualify for an open work permit.
7. Sort out insurance. Apply for Alberta coverage after you arrive, with private insurance for any gap.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using the old funds figure. Applications made from September 1, 2026 need the higher amount.
• Assuming every graduate student is PAL-exempt. The exemption only covers public DLIs.
• Picking a program that rules out a PGWP. Check field-of-study and language rules early.
• Working too many hours. The 24-hour weekly limit applies during academic sessions.
• Skipping insurance. Waiting periods and gaps in provincial coverage can leave you with large medical bills.

Your next steps

Confirm your school is a DLI and ask whether you need a PAL. Next, work out your full budget, including tuition, the new living cost amount and health insurance, and book a language test early.

For a wider view of your options after you graduate, read our guide to living and working in Canada. Once your permit is approved, our first weeks in Canada checklist covers your SIN, bank account and health card.