Study permit (with PAL/TAL where required)
Canada
Capped, but materially easier for master's applicants in 2026
Canada still runs a national cap on study permits, but 2026 brings real relief: from 1 January 2026, master's and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions no longer need a provincial attestation letter. Proof-of-funds requirements remain high and are checked closely.
Figures verified
September 2026
- Funds to evidence
- CAD $22,895 for a single applicant
- Post-study work
- Post-Graduation Work Permit, length tied to programme length
- Intakes
- September · January · May
SourceIRCC — 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student capIRCC — Attestation letters (PAL/TAL) operational guidanceLast verified September 2026
Why Canada
The case, and the conditions.
- Visa
- Study permit (with PAL/TAL where required)
- Currency
- CAD ($)
- Processing
- Published live by country of application.
Canada spent two years tightening. The provincial attestation letter, the national cap and a sharply higher proof-of-funds threshold together reset who could realistically apply. For 2026 the direction has partly reversed — but only for one group.
From 1 January 2026, master's and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions are exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement. That removes the single most unpredictable step in the Canadian timeline: waiting on a provincial allocation that may or may not arrive before your intake.
For everyone else the cap still governs. IRCC has set 2026 at up to 180,000 study permits for applicants who require an attestation letter, drawn from 309,670 application spaces. Those two numbers together tell you the real shape of the year: more applications than permits, and a provincial queue in front of the federal one.
Financially, Canada is now one of the most demanding destinations to evidence — and the most mechanical. The threshold is published, the GIC minimum is published, and a file that does not meet them precisely does not proceed. That suits students who prepare early and punishes students who do not.
Changes to plan around
Master's and doctoral PAL exemption from 1 January 2026
Students at public designated learning institutions at master's and doctoral level no longer require a provincial attestation letter.
SourceIRCC — Attestation letters (PAL/TAL) operational guidanceLast verified September 2026
2026 cap arithmetic
Up to 180,000 study permits for PAL/TAL-required applicants against 309,670 application spaces. Apply early in the allocation year.
SourceIRCC — 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student capLast verified September 2026
Programmes & institutions
What students in your field study here.
Programmes commonly offered here in the disciplines we specialise in, and the institutions worth knowing. A sample, not a ranking — and not a claim of partnership or placement.
Healthcare & engineering focus
- MSc Nursing
- MEng Computer Engineering
Other programmes that recur
- MSc Computer Science
- Master of Data Analytics
- Master of Business Analytics
- Postgraduate Diploma in Supply Chain Management
Institutions to know
A sample of well-known institutions, not a ranking. We shortlist against your record, your discipline and your budget.
University of Toronto
TorontoDeep research base; competitive at master's level.
McGill University
MontrealQuebec rules differ — funding thresholds and GIC minimums are set separately.
University of Waterloo
WaterlooCo-operative education is structural, not optional, in many programmes.
University of Alberta
EdmontonEnergy, engineering and agriculture, with lower living costs than the coasts.
Dalhousie University
HalifaxStrong marine and health sciences; Atlantic provinces have their own immigration streams.
Simon Fraser University
BurnabyComputing and interactive arts, inside the Vancouver metro area.
Tuition
Additional — proof of funds covers living costs only
Tuition is set programme by programme, not nationally. We quote the exact figure from your offer letter and model it against the financial evidence your visa requires — we do not publish averages, because no student pays an average.
Cost of living, line by line
CAD $22,895 per year, single applicant
This is the amount you must evidence for living costs, excluding tuition and travel.
The proof-of-funds figure is a regulatory minimum, not a budget. We model your actual city, programme length and accommodation type separately before you commit a deposit.
Verified requirements
The figures, with the page they came from.
For applications made on or after 1 September 2025, outside Quebec: CAD $22,895 for a single applicant, $28,502 for two people and $35,040 for three. These figures cover living costs only — tuition and travel are required in addition. The Guaranteed Investment Certificate minimum is CAD $20,635 outside Quebec and CAD $14,549 in Quebec.
SourceIRCC — 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student capIRCC — Attestation letters (PAL/TAL) operational guidanceLast verified September 2026
| Requirement | Figure in force |
|---|---|
| Proof of funds — single applicant | CAD $22,895 Applications on or after 1 September 2025, outside Quebec. Excludes tuition and travel costs. SourceIRCC — 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student capLast verified September 2026 |
| Proof of funds — two people | CAD $28,502 Applicant plus one accompanying family member, outside Quebec. SourceIRCC — 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student capLast verified September 2026 |
| Proof of funds — three people | CAD $35,040 Applicant plus two accompanying family members, outside Quebec. SourceIRCC — 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student capLast verified September 2026 |
| GIC minimum — outside Quebec | CAD $20,635 The Guaranteed Investment Certificate amount accepted as proof of funds outside Quebec. SourceIRCC — 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student capLast verified September 2026 |
| GIC minimum — Quebec | CAD $14,549 The equivalent accepted amount for study in Quebec. SourceIRCC — 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student capLast verified September 2026 |
| PAL / TAL | Required for most applicants From 1 January 2026, master's and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions are exempt. SourceIRCC — Attestation letters (PAL/TAL) operational guidanceLast verified September 2026 |
| 2026 study permit cap | 180,000 permits The 2026 ceiling for applicants who require an attestation letter, drawn from 309,670 application spaces. SourceIRCC — 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student capLast verified September 2026 |
The process
From offer letter to decision.
Study permit (with PAL/TAL where required)
The order matters more than the paperwork. Several of these steps require money to move, or a document to age, before the next one can start.
- 01
Accept an offer from a designated learning institution
Varies by institution
Only DLIs can host international students. Confirm PGWP eligibility for your specific programme in writing at this stage.
- 02
Obtain a PAL or TAL where required
Provincially determined
Provincial or territorial attestation letters are issued against a provincial allocation. From 1 January 2026, master's and doctoral students at public DLIs are exempt.
- 03
Arrange the GIC and supporting funds
1–3 weeks
CAD $20,635 outside Quebec, or $14,549 in Quebec, plus first-year tuition evidence and any balance of the proof-of-funds requirement.
- 04
Submit the study permit application with biometrics
Same week
Medical examination and police certificates are required for some applicants; we identify these in week one, not week six.
- 05
Decision, letter of introduction and port of entry
Per published processing time
The permit itself is issued on arrival against your letter of introduction. Carry your full document set in cabin baggage.
Rights and pathways
What the visa lets you do.
Work rights are conditions printed on the visa you are actually granted, not a national constant. Read the grant notice — where we quote hours or caps, we quote them from the published source rather than a figure that may already have moved.
After you graduate
Post-Graduation Work Permit, length tied to programme length
The Post-Graduation Work Permit remains the principal route from study to work, with eligibility tied to the institution, the programme and — for some applicants — field-of-study requirements. Confirm your specific programme's PGWP eligibility in writing with the institution before you accept an offer.
SourceIRCC — 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student capIRCC — Attestation letters (PAL/TAL) operational guidanceLast verified September 2026
While you study
Off-campus work for eligible full-time students at a designated learning institution.
Off-campus work is permitted for eligible full-time students at designated learning institutions. The weekly cap has been revised more than once since 2024 — confirm the cap in force on the permit you are actually issued.
Toward residence
Post-graduation work experience feeding federal and provincial economic streams.
Canadian work experience gained on a post-graduation permit is the usual bridge to permanent residence through federal or provincial economic streams. Selection is competitive and criteria change — treat it as a plan requiring effort, not an entitlement.
English tests accepted
IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and CELPIP, depending on the institution
Processing
IRCC publishes live processing times by country of application. They move substantially across the year — check the current figure for your country before committing to an intake.
Common refusal grounds
What gets Canada files refused.
Almost none of it is academic. These are the grounds we prepare against from the first week of a file.
Funds that do not meet the published threshold or arrive late
How we pre-empt it
We build the funds file against the exact published figure, with the GIC opened before anything else.
Programme choice that does not follow from prior study
How we pre-empt it
The study plan letter has to answer 'why this, why now, why Canada' in the first paragraph. We write it that way.
Missing or expired PAL/TAL
How we pre-empt it
We confirm exemption status or track the provincial allocation before the intake deadline, not after.
Weak ties and no articulated return plan
How we pre-empt it
We document post-study intent with specifics — sector, role, employer type — rather than assertions.
Example pathways
Profiles that consider Canada.
Example pathways describe typical profiles. They are not testimonials and do not describe any individual student or outcome.
Start here
Canada, or one of the other six?
Book a free profile assessment. We will tell you honestly whether this destination fits your record, what would have to change first, and — if it is the better answer — which of the other six fits it better.
Talk to an advisor
- +92 300 0000000
- Mon–Sat, 10:00–18:00 PKT
- Fees and services are discussed openly during consultation.
The other six
Most students compare at least three.
United Kingdom
One-year master's, and a graduate route that is narrowing
Explore UKAustralia
Genuine Student, evidenced properly
Explore AustraliaUnited States
Decided in three minutes, prepared over three months
Explore USAGermany
Low tuition, high documentation
Explore GermanyIreland
English-speaking, EU, and explicit about its numbers
Explore IrelandNew Zealand
Three years after a bachelor's, and a new short-term route
Explore New Zealand
Important — please read
Medica Study Advisor is an independent study-abroad consultancy. We are not a law firm and do not provide immigration legal advice. Visa rules, fees and financial thresholds change frequently — always confirm current requirements with the relevant official government authority before acting. Figures shown were last verified in September 2026.
Medica Study Advisor does not guarantee admissions, visa outcomes, jobs or sponsorships. We provide guidance, information and support to help you pursue opportunities responsibly.
Verified againstIRCC — 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student capIRCC — Attestation letters (PAL/TAL) operational guidanceLast verified September 2026