According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada has revised its regulations for study permits for international students, implementing changes that will go into effect in 2026 and are intended to streamline the application process for specific student groups.
According to the new regulations, students who are enrolled in joint academic programmes—those in which a course is offered by multiple institutions or provinces—will only need to include one provincial or territorial attestation letter with their application for a study permit. In the past, these students’ documentation and processing needs were increased by the need to submit a separate attestation letter from each province or territory.
A previously stated rule that exempts master’s and doctorate students at publicly financed universities from having to submit an attestation letter for their study permission is also implemented in the revised guidelines. According to the IRCC, the administrative burden that existed under previous rules is eliminated because students at various study levels are regarded as having equivalent academic rank. Nonetheless, an attestation letter is still necessary for visiting students, even those who enrol temporarily in graduate programs.
Along with clarifying which certificates and diplomas are free from attestation requirements, the updated procedure also clarifies the study permit requirements for students enrolled in Quebec vocational programmes. Students enrolled in CEGEP institutions in Quebec will still be required to provide the necessary provincial letter in spite of the modifications.
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As part of larger measures to control the number of foreign students entering the nation, Canada has also implemented study permit limitations for 2026. The yearly goal for new study permit admissions in 2026 is 155,000, which is a substantial decrease from 2025’s 305,900 aim. Applications submitted prior to January 1, 2026, shall be handled in accordance with the earlier guidelines.
Applications lacking the necessary supporting evidence will be returned without processing, according to the IRCC, and applicants will receive a refund of their expenses.
The modifications are a reflection of continuous efforts by Canadian authorities to streamline the study permit application process for certain groups while enforcing more precise requirements across the country, as well as to balance the demand for international education with resource demands like housing and social services.