2026 study-permit target falls to 408,000 issuances

For 2026 IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits: 155,000 to newly arriving students and 253,000 extensions for current or returning students. The cap provides 309,670 application spaces for PAL/TAL-required cohorts to support an issuance target of 180,000 for that group. These are distinct application-space and issuance figures; the cap does not mean 408,000 new international students.