Canada Sets 2026 International Student Cap

Key Point  

• Canada set 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap, allowing up to 408,000 study permits 

Study Permit Allocations  

Canada has released the 2026 allocations for study permits under the international student cap. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will process up to 408,000 study permits in 2026, divided between new applicants and extensions for current students. This measure continues Canada’s broader effort to reduce the temporary resident population to below 5% of the total population by the end of 2027. 

Cap Background  

Canada introduced the international student cap in 2024 to address pressures on housing, healthcare, and other public services. Since then, study permit holders have declined from more than one million in early 2024 to about 725,000 by September 2025. Canada designed the cap to slow growth while still maintaining opportunities for international students to study in the country.

2026 Allocations  

For 2026, IRCC expects to issue 155,000 permits to new international students and 253,000 extensions for those already in Canada. Allocations are distributed across provinces and territories based on population size and local capacity, ensuring a balanced approach to managing demand. 

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