🇨🇦 Canada to Reduce Student Visas to 410,000 in 2025

The Canadian federal government has officially announced its study permit target for 2026, revealing a significant shift in immigration and international education policy. According to the report, Canada plans to issue 408,000 total study permits, marking another step in the government’s strategy to stabilize population growth, regulate the international education sector, and ease pressure on housing and provincial resources.

This planned issuance number represents a 7% decrease compared to 2025’s target (437,000) and a 16% decrease relative to 2024 (485,000). The government is continuing its effort to reduce the historically high number of temporary residents in Canada, especially international students.

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Breakdown of the 408,000 Study Permits for 2026

The total planned issuance consists of two main categories:

1. New Study Permits: 155,000

These are for students applying to study in Canada for the first time.

This reduction means fewer new international students may enter Canada in 2026, suggesting increased competition for admission into Canadian institutions—especially in provinces with high demand, like Ontario, British Columbia, and Québec.

2. Extensions for Current Students: 253,000

These apply to students already in Canada who need to extend their study status.

While still significant in number, this is part of a controlled approach aimed at preventing overstays and maintaining compliance with study permit conditions.

🏫 Permit Distribution by Student Type

The 2026 issuance quotas are further divided based on the level or type of study:

• Master’s & PhD at public DLIs: 49,000 Graduate-level programs remain prioritized, reflecting Canada’s interest in attracting advanced-skilled talent.

• K-12 students: 115,000 This includes minor students attending elementary and secondary schools.

• PAL/TAL-exempt students: 64,000 These typically include categories such as certain graduate programs or students with specific exemptions.

• General students requiring PAL/TAL: 180,000 This is the largest group and includes most post-secondary students.

PAL/TAL stands for Provincial / Territorial Attestation Letter, which many students must now obtain before applying for a study permit. It confirms that a student is counted within the province’s annual allocation.

🗺️ Provincial & Territorial Allocations

The federal government allocates permits to provinces, which then manage them within their education systems.

The most affected provinces are those with the highest international student populations:

Estimated allocations for the PAL/TAL-required category (approx. 309,670):

• Ontario: 104,780 Ontario receives the largest share due to its significant number of colleges and universities—but still fewer than previous years.

• Québec: 93,069 Québec maintains a large allocation, reflecting its major institutions and sizable education sector.

• British Columbia: 32,596 Although BC has many international students, the allocation is considerably lower than Ontario and Québec.

• Smaller provinces and territories receive significantly smaller quotas, and in the case of Nunavut, the allocation is zero.

These allocations highlight how dramatically the landscape will shift for colleges and universities across Canada.

📉 Why the Reduction? Government’s Rationale

The Canadian government states that these reductions are part of a broader effort to restore balance in the international student system.

Key reasons include:

✔️ Controlling rapid population growth

As of September 2025, there were about 725,000 international students in Canada with valid study permits.

Although this is lower than the peak of over 1 million in January 2024, the government considers the numbers still high.

✔️ Easing pressure on housing

High student numbers contribute to rental demand in major cities like Toronto and Vancouver. Reducing new permits may help stabilize housing markets.

✔️ Improving quality of education

Some private institutions have been criticized for overcrowding, limited resources, or inadequate academic quality.

Quota reductions are meant to reduce exploitation and ensure schools meet proper standards.

✔️ Supporting sustainable immigration pathways

The government aims to protect the integrity of pathways such as PGWP (Post-Graduation Work Permit) and PR (Permanent Residency), which were strained by over-enrollment.

🎓 Impact on International Students

The quota cuts will have several implications:

1. Increased competition for admission

With fewer permits for new students, applying early—and to multiple institutions—will be more important.

2. More importance placed on PAL/TAL

Programs requiring a PAL/TAL may see stricter screening and priority given to certain fields or educational levels.

3. Colleges may reduce international enrollment

Especially private career colleges or institutions reliant heavily on overseas students.

4. Potential tuition increases

If institutions lose revenue from reduced international enrollment, tuition adjustments may follow—especially for domestic students.

5. More attention on high-demand programs

Graduate programs (Master’s, PhD) may become more attractive since they have stronger protection under the new system.

💬 Conclusion

The federal government’s decision to reduce study permits to 408,000 in 2026 marks a major turning point in Canada’s approach to international education.

While the changes aim to strengthen the system’s sustainability, international students may face higher competition, stricter requirements, and limited spots in the near future.

But, don’t worry! Our professional consultants will help you guide you through the process. 

🇨🇦 Canada to Reduce Student Visas to 410,000 in 2025