Studying in Canada: Study Permits, Caps and Work After Graduation (2026)

To study in Canada for more than 6 months you need:

1. An acceptance letter from a designated learning institution (DLI), a school approved by a province or territory to host international students.
2. A provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) in most cases. Provinces issue these under their share of the national cap.
3. Proof of funds for tuition, travel, and living costs. IRCC sets the minimum living cost amount and updates it periodically.
4. A study permit, applied for online with IRCC, usually before you travel. Some applicants also need a visitor visa or eTA to enter.

Students going to Quebec also need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the Quebec government before they apply for the permit.

Compare studying in the US in USA vs Canada and on studying in the USA.

Canada has capped international student numbers since 2024. For 2026:

• IRCC plans to issue about 408,000 study permits in total: 155,000 to new arrivals and 253,000 extensions.
• It will accept up to about 309,670 applications from students who need a PAL/TAL.
• New in 2026: master's and doctoral students at public institutions no longer need a PAL/TAL.
• Most college and undergraduate students still need one.

Each province decides how to share its PAL/TAL allocation among schools, so some schools run out early. Ask your school how it issues letters before you pay deposits. Follow updates on the study permit cap page.

Plan for three kinds of cost:

Tuition for international students is set by each school and is usually much higher than for Canadians. Proof of funds can include a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) from a Canadian bank, bank statements, scholarships, or a sponsor's support. Quebec sets its own amounts for the CAQ. See the study permit page for the full family table and the proof of funds guide.

Choosing a school. Check that the school is a DLI, that your program is eligible for a PGWP if you want to work afterward, and how the school gets PAL/TAL letters. Programs at some private colleges linked to public institutions are not PGWP-eligible.

Yes, with limits:

• Off campus: up to 24 hours a week during regular academic sessions, and full time during scheduled breaks, if your permit allows work and you are a full-time student in an eligible program.
• On campus: no weekly hour limit, as long as you remain a full-time student.
• Co-op and internships: need a co-op work permit if the work is a required part of your program.

Spouses of master's and PhD students (and some professional programs) can get an open work permit. Spouses of college and undergraduate students generally cannot.

The post-graduation work permit is an open work permit that can last up to 3 years, depending on your program length. You must apply within 180 days of confirmation that you finished your program. Key rules:

• Language test: CLB 7 for university degree programs, CLB 5 for college programs.
• Field of study: college and other non-degree graduates must have studied in a field on IRCC's eligible list, which is frozen for 2026. Bachelor's, master's, and doctoral graduates are exempt from the field rule.
• Eligible school: some private college programs are not eligible. Check before you enroll.

You get only one PGWP in your life, so plan your program choice around it.

1. Choose a program at a DLI and check that it is eligible for a PGWP.
2. Ask the school whether you need a PAL/TAL and how it issues them.
3. Prepare proof of funds for tuition, travel, and living costs.
4. Check whether you need a visitor visa or an eTA to enter Canada.
5. Apply online for your study permit well before your program starts.

Study does not give permanent residence by itself, but it builds the pieces:

• Canadian Experience Class: 1 year of skilled work on your PGWP can qualify you through Express Entry. A Canadian degree also adds CRS points. Try the CRS calculator.
• Provincial graduate streams: some provinces still have them, such as Saskatchewan's students stream and Atlantic graduate streams. Several were cut in 2026: British Columbia ended its graduate streams, and Ontario repealed its master's and PhD streams.
• Quebec: graduates of Quebec schools with French may qualify for the PEQ, whose first intake closes October 31, 2026.