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<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#dce8ff;padding:10px;"><p><strong>Key Highlights</strong></p><ul><li>Canada’s study-permit cap will no longer apply to Master’s and PhD students at Public DLIs starting January 1, 2026.</li><li>No PAL/TAL required for Graduate Applicants at Public Universities.</li><li>Fast-track 14-day processing introduced for PhD applicants applying from outside Canada.</li><li>Priority processing extended to accompanying family members of PhD students.</li><li>Private DLI students and Bachelor’s, Diploma, and Certificate applicants remain under the cap.</li><li>Policy shift aims to prioritize high-skilled talent, strengthen research output, and support Canada’s long-term innovation goals</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p style="text-align:justify;">In a major policy realignment signalling Canada’s focus on higher education, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced new measures that will accelerate and prioritize study permit processing for incoming Master’s and PhD students. This is a noteworthy <strong>Canada Study Permit Cap</strong> update for international students planning to enrol for the upcoming academic intake.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Graduate Students now Exempt from the Study Permit Cap</strong></h2><p style="text-align:justify;">One of the most significant updates is the government’s decision to exclude master’s and doctoral students at Public Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) from Canada’s annual study-permit cap. Starting January 1, 2026, Graduate applicants at Public Universities will not be restricted by the national study permit cap. This means that applicants will no longer require a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL), a document previously necessary to secure approval under the capped system.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">This exemption reflects Canada’s deliberate shift toward prioritizing advanced academic training and research-focused education areas that directly contribute to its economic and technological growth.<br>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Fast-Track Processing for PhD Applicants and their Families</strong></h2><p style="text-align:justify;">IRCC will also introduce accelerated processing for doctoral applicants applying from outside Canada. A targeted 14-day fast-track processing window for PhD study permit applications will be implemented. This will significantly improve the previous wait time.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Additionally, accompanying family members like spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children will also be included in this priority processing channel.<br>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Why are these New Measures Significant Now?</strong></h2><p style="text-align:justify;">Canada’s study-permit framework has undergone significant restructuring since the introduction of the study permit cap. While the yearly permit limit is being reduced to 155,000 for 2026 and 150,000 for both 2027 and 2028, the new exemptions create a more balanced system, one that maintains control over intakes while simultaneously safeguarding opportunities for high-potential students.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Amid concerns about infrastructure strain, rising enrollment in low-quality programs, and uneven growth across institutions, Canada has made a conscious decision to champion quality-driven immigration. By protecting pathways for <a href="https://www.studies-overseas.com/blogs/top-courses-to-study-in-canada" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Canadian Master's or PhD Programs</strong></a>, the government signals a clear message that research, innovation, and advanced learning remain national priorities.<br>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>What does this mean for International Students?</strong></h2><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Higher Approval Predictability:</strong> With exemptions from the study-permit cap and the PAL/TAL requirement, master’s and PhD applicants now face fewer barriers and greater application certainty.<br>&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Enhanced Research Opportunities:</strong> Public Universities offering advanced programs in STEM, Health, Applied Sciences, and other high-impact fields are expected to attract even more qualified global applicants.<br>&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:justify;"><strong>A Stronger Competitive Advantage:</strong> These policy shifts position Canada as an even more compelling destination for motivated graduate researchers compared to other major study-abroad markets.<br>&nbsp;</li></ul><h2><strong>Who still Falls Under the Permit Cap?</strong></h2><p style="text-align:justify;">While the new rules are highly favourable for graduate students aspiring to study at public institutions, the cap will remain applicable to the following:</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li style="text-align:justify;">Bachelor’s, diploma, and certificate program students.&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Students applying to private DLIs, regardless of study level.&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Applicants whose programs fall outside recognized public institutions.</li></ul><p style="text-align:justify;">These distinctions are purposefully constructed to prevent over-enrollment in <a href="https://www.studies-overseas.com/country/study-in-canada" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Canada's Higher Education</strong></a> sectors that have contributed to housing, infrastructure, and labour-market pressures. At a time when countries worldwide are tightening immigration pathways, Canada has chosen to open its doors wider for high-skilled graduate talent. These changes come as part of Canada’s long-term plan to preserve the integrity of its education system while continuing to invest in research, innovation, and global competitiveness.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">For study-abroad aspirants, especially those planning Master’s and PhD programs at Canadian Public Universities, this marks one of the most encouraging developments in recent years. &nbsp;Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to reach out to our Canada Experts for seamless navigation of the application process to study in Canada.&nbsp;</p>

In a major policy realignment signalling Canada’s focus on higher education, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced new measures that will accelerate and prioritize study permit processing for incoming Master’s and PhD students. This is a noteworthy Canada Study Permit Cap update for international students planning to enrol for the upcoming academic intake. 

Canada Lifts Study Permit Cap & Fast-Tracks Processing for Master’s & PhD Applicants

Canada Lifts Study Permit Cap & Fast-Tracks Processing for Master’s & PhD Applicants

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