Canada Study Permit Rules for Fall 2027
Canada has rewritten its student rules almost every year since 2024. Many guides still quote the old proof-of-funds amount, a cap number from the wrong year, or a co-op work permit that no longer exists. This page covers the rules in force on November 4, 2026, with a link to the government page behind each one.
Last checked November 4, 2026. Immigration rules change often. Confirm on canada.ca before you apply.
2026 permit target
408K
New and extended permits
Proof of funds
$23,448
Single applicant, outside Quebec
Off-campus work
24 hrs
Per week during terms
2025 refusal rate
59%
New study permit applications
The study permit cap
IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026: 155,000 for new arrivals and 253,000 extensions for students already here. That is 7% lower than 2025 and 16% lower than 2024.
| Applicant group | 2026 target | PAL/TAL needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, college, and certificate students | 180,000 | Yes |
| Master's and doctoral students at public institutions | 49,000 | No, since January 1, 2026 |
| Primary and secondary (K-12) students | 115,000 | No |
| Other exempt applicants | 64,000 | No |
Where the 180,000 PAL/TAL permits go
2026 issuance targets by province and territory
Attestation letters (PAL/TAL)
A PAL or TAL is a letter from your province or territory confirming you count toward its share of the cap. The process differs by province, so follow your school’s instructions after you accept an offer.
- Undergraduate, college, and certificate students need one.
- Master’s and doctoral students at public institutions don’t, as of January 1, 2026. This rule has flipped twice: graduate students were exempt in 2024, needed a letter from January 22, 2025, then became exempt again.
- Visiting students need one, including visiting graduate students.
- Joint programs across several schools or provinces need only one letter.
- You need a new letter to restore your status, but not to change programs at the same school and level.
- Quebec doesn’t issue PALs. Its CAQ serves the same purpose. Cégep students still need a PAL/TAL.
Proof of funds
For applications made on or after September 1, 2026, you must show you can cover a year of living costs. These amounts don't include tuition or travel, and IRCC checks where the money comes from, not just how much there is.
| People in your family (including you) | Amount required |
|---|---|
| 1 | $23,448 |
| 2 | $29,192 |
| 3 | $35,888 |
| 4 | $43,572 |
| 5 | $49,419 |
| 6 | $55,736 |
| 7 | $62,054 |
| Each extra person | $6,318 |
Until August 31, 2026, a single applicant needed $22,895, which is the figure many guides still quote. Quebec sets its own amount: $24,617 for one adult from January 1, 2026, up from $15,508.
Working while you study
During term
Up to 24 hours a week off campus, across any number of jobs. If your permit still says 20 hours, the 24-hour limit applies as long as you meet the conditions. On-campus work and remote work for an employer outside Canada don’t count toward the limit.
During scheduled breaks
No limit during summer, winter holidays, or reading week. Going over 24 hours a week while classes are running breaks the conditions of your permit.
Post-graduation work permit (PGWP)
You get a PGWP once, and you must apply within 180 days of your school confirming you've finished. Your study permit must have been valid at some point in those 180 days.
| Rule | Bachelor's, master's, PhD | College and other programs |
|---|---|---|
| Language test | CLB 7 / NCLC 7 in all four skills | CLB 5 / NCLC 5 |
| Field-of-study list | Doesn't apply | Program must be on IRCC's list (permits applied for from November 1, 2024) |
| Permit length | Matches program; 3 years for 2+ year programs; 3 years for any master's | Matches program; 3 years for 2+ year programs |
- Your program must last at least 8 months (900 hours in Quebec) at a PGWP-eligible school.
- At least half the program must be completed in class in Canada. Time spent studying from abroad is deducted from your permit length.
- Most programs at private colleges licensed to deliver a public college’s curriculum are not eligible.
- IRCC says it won’t add or remove any eligible fields of study in 2026.
Bringing a spouse or partner
Since January 21, 2025, your spouse or common-law partner can get an open work permit only if you're enrolled in one of these:
- A master’s program of 16 months or longer
- A doctoral program
- An eligible professional degree, such as medicine, law, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, education, or engineering
Spouses of bachelor’s students and most college students no longer qualify. The permit can’t run past your study permit, and the combined fee is $255.
Quebec does things differently
Before you apply for a federal study permit, you need a Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) from Quebec's immigration ministry.
- The CAQ fee is $135 in 2026, up from $126.
- Processing times quoted by advisers range from about 20 business days to six weeks. Apply four to six months before your program starts.
- Programs of six months or less usually need neither a CAQ nor a study permit.
- Quebec’s proof of funds is $24,617 for one adult, higher than the $23,448 required elsewhere.
Other changes since 2024
- The Student Direct Stream closed on November 8, 2024. Everyone now applies through the regular stream.
- Since December 1, 2023, schools must confirm every acceptance letter directly with IRCC.
- You need a new study permit before you transfer to a different post-secondary school.
- IRCC figures presented to Parliament in April 2026 showed a 59% refusal rate for new study permit applications in 2025, up from 52% in 2024. A complete, well-documented application matters more than ever.
- Canada aims to bring temporary residents below 5% of the population by the end of 2027, which is why the caps keep tightening.
Choosing a school? See our best universities for international students and cheapest universities guides.
Frequently asked questions
What is the study permit cap for 2027?
It had not been announced as of November 4, 2026. The 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan set a target of 150,000 new international student arrivals for 2027, but the actual cap and provincial allocations were expected with the 2027-2029 Levels Plan in November 2026.
Do I need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) for a bachelor's degree?
Yes. Undergraduate, college and certificate students need a PAL or TAL from the province or territory where they will study. Master's and doctoral students at public institutions have been exempt since January 1, 2026. In Quebec, the CAQ takes the place of a PAL.
How much money do I need to show for a Canadian study permit?
A single applicant outside Quebec must show $23,448 for living costs for applications made on or after September 1, 2026, on top of tuition and travel. Quebec requires $24,617 for one adult.
Do I still need a co-op work permit?
Not for post-secondary programs. Since April 1, 2026, your study permit covers a required work placement that makes up 50% or less of your program. Secondary school students still need a co-op work permit.
Can my spouse work in Canada while I study for a bachelor's degree?
Generally no. Since January 21, 2025, spousal open work permits are limited to partners of students in master's programs of 16 months or longer, doctoral programs, or certain professional degree programs.
Sources
- Canada.ca: 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap (November 25, 2025)
- Canada.ca: Study permit proof of financial support (updated August 28, 2026)
- Canada.ca: Work off campus as an international student (updated April 15, 2026)
- Canada.ca: Post-graduation work permit, who can apply (updated June 24, 2026)
- CIC News: New rules for processing of study permit applications (February 2026)
- Maven Consulting: Canada study permit cap 2027
- CareerAbroad: Canada immigration levels plan 2026-2028
- ICA Immigration: Canada's new immigration levels plan 2027
- VNIS: Study in Canada 2027, changes to know before applying
- CIC News: Off-campus work rules for international students, May 2026 update
- Bridgepoint Law: PGWP 2026 guide
- Rightway Canada: Open work permit for spouses of international students
- MAK Immigration: Spousal open work permit 2026
- ApplyBoard Assist: Quebec updates proof of funds for 2026-27
- ApplyBoard Assist: How to apply for a CAQ in 2026
- Leap Digital: Canada international student policy timeline 2023-2027