Post by : Meena Ariff

Canada is planning to issue a total of 408,000 study permits in 2026, which marks a 7% reduction compared to the current year. This decrease primarily targets new international students, reducing the permits for first-time applicants to 155,000—almost 50% of the 305,900 issued this year. The majority of the permits will be allocated to returning students, totaling 253,000.

The projection by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows that these figures are 7% lower than the 2025 goal of 437,000 and 16% below the 2024 target of 485,000. This strategic shift aims to better manage the temporary resident numbers while still nurturing opportunities for high-skilled international talent.

As of now, the valid study permits in Canada have seen a reduction from over one million in January 2024 to approximately 725,000 by September 2025. Despite this decline, the IRCC remains dedicated to attracting the best international students to bolster Canada’s economy, research capabilities, and innovation.

Starting January 1, 2026, master’s and doctoral candidates enrolled in designated public learning institutions will no longer need to provide provincial or territorial attestation letters when applying for study permits. This change recognizes the key role graduate students play in advancing Canada’s innovation and economic progress. An updated list of eligible institutions will be available on the government’s website soon.

Canada continues to hold its position as a leading destination for international education, being home to the world’s second-largest international student population, just after the United States, with around 800,000 students enrolled in the 2024–2025 academic year, according to the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors report.

This strategy aligns with the government's vision of achieving a balance between reducing temporary residency and creating an inviting atmosphere for high-skilled international students who are essential to Canada’s economic and research trajectory.

#Canada News #Education News