Allocation of study permit quotas for provinces and territories in 2026 based on international student quotas.
Ottawa, November 25, 2025 – The international student quota limits the number of study permit applications that the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processes annually. Implemented since 2024, this quota has proven effective in slowing the growth of the temporary resident population in Canada, with the number of study permit holders decreasing from over 1 million in January 2024 to approximately 725,000 in September 2025.
While this is an important step, Canada still needs to reduce its population further to meet its commitment to bring the proportion of temporary residents to below 5% of the total population by the end of 2027.
Over the next year, IRCC expects to issue a maximum of 408,000 study permits, including 155,000 new permits for international students coming to Canada for the first time, as stipulated in the Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028, and 253,000 renewals for current or returning students. This figure is 7% lower than the 2025 permit target of 437,000 and 16% lower than the 2024 permit target of 485,000.
As the government continues its efforts to reduce the total transient population and bring sustainability back to the immigration system, it remains focused on attracting top talent through the International Student Program to meet Canada's broader economic and social goals.
Beginning January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students enrolled at a public designated educational institution (DLI) will no longer need to submit a Provincial or Territorial Letter of Acceptance (PAL/TAL) when applying for a study permit. This exemption recognizes their unique contributions to Canada's economic growth and innovation, and supports the goal of attracting talent. A full list of eligible public DLIs will be published soon on the Department of Immigration website.
The following groups will be exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement in 2026:
- Master's and doctoral students studying at (new) public DLIs.
- Students from kindergarten to grade 12 (elementary and secondary school)
- Some of the Canadian Government's priority groups and vulnerable groups.
- Individuals who hold a student permit and are applying for renewal at the same DLI and at the same level of study.
The number of study permits expected to be issued in 2026, broken down by student group, is as follows:
National target 2026 (new and renewing students in Canada)
| group of students | Target |
|---|---|
| Master's and PhD students at public DLIs (PAL/TAL waived) | 49,000 |
| Kindergarten to 12th grade students (exempt from PAL/TAL) | 115,000 |
| Other PAL/TAL exempt groups | 64,000 |
| PAL/TAL request group | 180,000 |
| Total | 408,000 |
In 2026, a maximum of 180,000 study permits are expected to be issued to groups required to have PAL/TAL. The 180,000 target is allocated to provinces and territories based on their populations.
2026 study permit target for cohorts requiring PAL/TAL (2026 study permit target for PAL/TAL-required cohorts)
This is the “ISSUANCE TARGET”. It means: The number of STUDY PERMITS that IRCC expects to ACTUALLY ISSUE in 2026 for the group of students required to have a PAL/TAL.
| Province/Territory | Targets for 2026 |
|---|---|
| Alberta | 21,582 |
| British Columbia | 24,786 |
| Manitoba | 6,534 |
| New Brunswick | 3,726 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 2,358 |
| Northwest Territories | 198 |
| Nova Scotia | 4,680 |
| Nunavut | 180 |
| Ontario | 70,074 |
| Prince Edward Island | 774 |
| Quebec | 39,474 |
| Saskatchewan | 5,436 |
| Yukon | 198 |
| Total | 180,000 |
This indicator reflects the number of applications each province or territory is expected to need to meet its licensing target, taking into account that some applications may be rejected.
The following allocations are based on the average acceptance rate of study abroad applications for each province/territory in 2024 and 2025:
2026 allocations for all PAL/TAL-required applications
This is the “APPLICATION ALLOCATION QUOTA”. It means: The number of APPLICATIONS that IRCC allows to be submitted to the system, i.e., the number of “slots” that each province is allowed to allocate to its schools for students to apply.
| Province/Territory | Allocation targets for 2026 |
|---|---|
| Alberta | 32,271 |
| British Columbia | 32,596 |
| Manitoba | 11,196 |
| New Brunswick | 8,004 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 5,507 |
| Northwest Territories | 785 |
| Nova Scotia | 8,480 |
| Nunavut¹ | 0 |
| Ontario | 104,780 |
| Prince Edward Island | 1,376 |
| Quebec | 93,069 |
| Saskatchewan | 11,349 |
| Yukon | 257 |
| Total | 309,670 |
A total of 309,670 study permit applications will be accepted under the quota for 2026. This is the maximum number of study permit applications that IRCC will accept from students who are required to have a PAL/TAL for that year. Each province or territory will be responsible for allocating this quota to its designated educational institutions.
IRCC will continue to work with provinces and territories to ensure the International Student Program aligns with Canada’s economic and social priorities. Through prudent and responsible actions, Canada can continue to benefit from the contributions of international students.
Note
1. Because Nunavut currently has no designated post-secondary educational institutions (DLIs), the territory is temporarily not allocated quotas.
