Three figures with different meanings
IRCC’s 2026 announcement anticipates up to 408,000 study permits: 155,000 for new arrivals and 253,000 extensions. The 309,670 cap concerns application spaces for PAL/TAL-required students, not all students or approvals. The corresponding issuance target for that cohort is 180,000.
Attestation exceptions matter
From 1 January 2026, master’s and doctoral degree students at public designated learning institutions are exempt from PAL/TAL. Other exceptions also exist. Use the current exemption checklist and supply proof where claiming one; Quebec applicants must separately check CAQ requirements.
Post-study work is a separate check
PGWP eligibility depends on the programme and other conditions. Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates have no field-of-study requirement, while language requirements still apply. Other programme types can have a field requirement linked to the study-permit application date. Check before choosing a course.
What to ask a school
Ask the admissions office how it handles attestation requests for your programme and intake. Keep its answer and refund terms before paying. A provincial allocation does not establish your personal approval probability. Compare actual programmes and documents rather than unsupported rankings of provinces by visa competitiveness.
Questions before acting
Does the cap guarantee a permit within an allocated space?
No. A processing allocation does not determine the result of an individual application.
Is every graduate programme exempt from attestation?
Check the public-DLI degree exception and the complete checklist; do not assume an institution qualifies.
Corrections in this revision
The previous version included statements without sufficient direct support. This revision removes or corrects:
- Statements without direct official support: removed, or replaced with the official rule. Removed figures are not repeated on this page.
Review scope: legal and financial statements in this revised article. Recheck on a provider, professional, immigration or tax-rule change; reuse of dated figures requires a new check.
See recorded sources
- IRCC: 2026 student allocations — Canada. Published 25 November 2025 for 2026
- IRCC: PAL/TAL requirements — Canada. Current official checklist read 26 September 2026
- IRCC: PGWP eligibility — Canada. Current official checklist read 26 September 2026
These primary references have the jurisdiction, product and scope stated above. A source link is not proof of personalised eligibility.
Ready to explore the programme requirements for your move?
Explore recorded pathways and source links. This questionnaire does not determine eligibility or recommend a destination.
Get your free resultsVisa and WTE updates by email.
No fixed schedule is promised. Unsubscribe at any time.
About the author
António Mira is the founder of whereTOemigrate. For over a decade he has worked at the intersection of Portuguese real estate and overseas business, helping international clients navigate the cross-border decisions that come with relocating. He sits on the board of CCIAP (Portuguese-Arab Chamber of Commerce), the Portuguese-Saudi Business Council, and the Portugal-Hong Kong Business Association — always with one focus: enabling overseas business and human mobility into and out of Portugal.
How we verify our data · Editorial standards · About whereTOemigrate