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Canada to accept fewer international students in 2026
The cap set at 408,000, marks a 16 percent decline from 2024, when the international student cap was first introduced.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Thu, 27, Nov 2025
- 02:41 EST
- 14
Representative image / Pexels
The Government of Canada has announced a further cutback on the number of international students receiving study permits in 2026. Announced on Nov. 25, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has set the international student cap at 408,000 study permits, marking a 7 percent decline from last year.
First introduced in 2024, the international student cap limits the number of study permit applications that IRCC process each year. Aimed at curbing the growth of Canada’s temporary population, with the number of study permit holders dropping from over 1 million in January 2024 to about 725,000 by September 2025.
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In a statement, the government said, "While this progress is significant, further reductions are needed to meet our commitment of reducing the share of Canada’s temporary population to below 5% of the total population by the end of 2027."
Out of the 408,000 study permits it plans to offer, 155,000 permits would be offered to newly arriving international students and 253,000 extensions for current and returning students. This marks a seven percent decline from 2025 and a 16 percent decline from 2024.
Offering respite to master’s and doctoral level students enrolled at a public designated learning institution (DLI), the government also announced that they will not need to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) with their study permit application.
Announcing the news, the Canadian government said, "As we work to reduce the overall temporary population and bring sustainability back to the immigration system, we also remain focused on attracting top talent through the International Student Program to meet Canada’s broader economic and social goals."
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