New rules for processing of study permit applications
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published updated instructions to officers on the processing of study permit applications with respect to provincial or territorial attestation letters (PALs/TALs), with good news for international students pursuing joint programs.
Under the new instructions, published on IRCC’s website on February 6, 2026, students in joint programs only require a single PAL/TAL, even if the program involves multiple designated learning institutions (DLIs) and/or requires study in more than one province or territory.
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Under the previous instructions, a student in a joint program involving more than one postsecondary DLI or requiring study in multiple provinces/territories would require a separate PAL/TAL from each DLI and each province or territory.
The updated instructions have also implemented the previously announced PAL/TAL exemption for master’s and doctoral students studying at publicly-funded DLIs.
The new instructions have also kept in place the following rules:
- When applying for restoration of status, a student must include a new PAL/TAL.
- Visiting students, including visiting graduate students, require a PAL/TAL as they do not qualify for the exchange student exemption.
- Applicants renewing their valid study permit to change their program of study do not require a PAL/TAL if they remain at the same DLI within the same level of study.
The new instructions also clarified that IRCC considers master’s and doctoral programs to be the same level of study.
In addition, the new instructions provided more clarity on which vocational programs in Quebec meet the PAL/TAL exemption on account of being considered secondary-level programs:
- Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) / Diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP).
- Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS) / Attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP).
- Pre-Work Training Certificate (PWTC) / Certificat de formation préparatoire au travail (CFPT).
- Training Certificate for a Semiskilled Trade (TCST) / Certificat de formation à un métier semi-spécialisé (CFMS).
Students studying in Quebec at the College of General and Professional Teaching (CEGEP) continue to require PALs/TALs.
The new instructions apply to applications received in 2026.
Applications received prior to January 1, 2026, will be processed under the instructions in force at the time they were received.
Since January 22, 2024, applications for study permits for postsecondary programs have required a PAL/TAL, unless qualifying under one of the exemptions.
Study permit applications submitted without the required PAL/TAL will not be accepted; they will be returned without processing and the fees refunded.
Quebec students can satisfy the PAL/TAL requirement with an attestation of issuance of a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI).
The federal government first put in place the cap on study permit applications in an effort to reduce the pressure on housing and social services resulting from the surge in international students and post-graduation work permit holders.
Starting in October of 2024, the federal government has set annual targets for international student admissions in each year’s Immigration Levels Plan.
The target for 2026 is 155,000, down from 305,900 for 2025.
From January 2025 to November 2025 (the most recent government data available), Canada admitted 105,870 new study permit holders.
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