Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made it clear starting from January 1, 2026, master’s and doctoral students applying at public universities in Canada will be exempt from national study permit cap and no PAL/TAL will be needed.
At the same time IRCC has introduced 2 weeks processing time for doctoral (PhD) students and their families to make Canada attractive to international scholars.
Why This Change Matters for International Students
Previously PAL/TAL letters were required for study permit applications making the process lengthy and often resulting students missing their intake. With this requirement removed, graduate students can directly apply for study permit to IRCC after receiving Letter of Admission (LOA).
This will make Canada a top choice for study abroad destination, especially for students who want to study Masters degree and PhD degree at Canadian public institutions.
What Are The Study Permit Requirements ?
Only the PAL/TAL requirement is lifted for graduate students and still need to provide the essential documents in your Canadian study permit applications, including:
- Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI);
- Valid passport or travel document;
- Sufficient financial support;
- Photographs; and
- Supporting documents such as medical exams or police certificates, if applicable.
What Does This Mean for Canada’s Immigration Future?
This policy aligns with Canada’s strategy to attract and retain highly educated immigrants. Graduate and doctoral students often transition into skilled workers and later permanent residents under programs like Express Entry or the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
By streamlining study permit processing and removing PAL/TAL, IRCC aims to strengthen Canada’s research capacity, support innovation, and maintain its reputation as a world leader in higher education.
This also means Universities will get more study permits than Colleges. International students who come after high school and take admission in diploma programs will now have lower approval chances than the previous years.
If you need assistance in admission in Master’s programs at Canadian universities, contact Canada Updates Immigration for assistance.
FAQs
Q: Who qualifies for this exemption?
All master’s and doctoral degree applicants enrolling in public post-secondary institutions in Canada qualify.
Q: What changes for these students?
From 2026, graduate students will no longer need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) when applying for a study permit. This will simplify applications and reduce both processing delays and upfront costs.
Q: How does this affect the number of students?
The exemption means graduate applications won’t be limited by the federal study permit cap, allowing more qualified international students to study in Canada even when other categories reach their quotas.
