Canada has updated its rules for international student study permits, introducing changes that take effect in 2026 and aim to make the application process simpler for certain categories of students, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said.

Under the new rules, students enrolled in joint academic programmes, where a course is offered by more than one institution or across more than one province, will now only need to submit one provincial or territorial attestation letter as part of their study permit application. Previously, such students were required to provide a separate attestation letter from each province or territory involved, adding to their paperwork and processing requirements.

The updated instructions also implement an earlier announced rule that excludes master’s and doctoral students at publicly funded institutions from the requirement to provide an attestation letter for their study permit. IRCC said students at these levels of study are treated as having comparable academic status, removing the administrative burden that applied under earlier guidelines. However, visiting students, including those who join graduate programmes temporarily, still require an attestation letter.

The revised process also provides clarity on study permit requirements for students in Quebec vocational programmes, outlining which certificates and diplomas qualify for exemptions from attestation requirements. Despite the changes, students enrolled at Quebec’s CEGEP institutions will still need to provide the required provincial letter.

Canada has also introduced study permit caps for 2026 as part of broader efforts to manage the number of international students entering the country. The annual target for new study permit admissions in 2026 has been set at 155,000, a significant reduction from 305,900 in 2025. Applications received before January 1, 2026, will be processed under the previous rules.

IRCC said it will return applications that do not include the required documentation without processing them, with fees refunded to applicants.

The changes reflect ongoing attempts by Canadian authorities to balance demand for international education with resource pressures such as housing and social services, and to streamline the study permit process for selected groups while enforcing clearer requirements nationwide. (Business Day)