Updated guidance circulating on 10 January 2026 has confirmed that master’s and PhD candidates are formally exempt from Canada’s two-year national cap on study-permit applications and no longer need to supply a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL). The change, effective 1 January 2026, was highlighted this week in university bulletins and immigrant-advisory portals after IRCC released clarifying FAQs to designated learning institutions.
The PAL/TAL regime, introduced in 2024 to help provinces manage surging applications, required most post-secondary applicants to obtain a quota letter before filing for a study permit. Removing the obligation for graduate students is expected to streamline processing; doctoral applicants are now eligible for two-week processing under the Student Direct Stream. Institutions with large research cohorts, such as the University of Toronto and McGill, say the exemption will help them issue offers without worrying about provincial caps.
For prospective students navigating these changes, VisaHQ can provide end-to-end assistance with the Canadian study-permit process. Through its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/), applicants can verify whether they qualify under the new exemption, generate personalized checklists, and submit paperwork digitally—saving time even when provincial letters are no longer required.
![Graduate Students Exempt from Study-Permit Cap as IRCC Drops Provincial Attestation Letter Requirement]()
For employers, the decision shores up a critical pipeline of highly skilled talent who often transition to permanent residence through the Express Entry system. Mobility teams sponsoring research staff or offering co-op placements should see fewer administrative delays and can plan onboarding dates with greater certainty. However, undergraduate and non-degree students remain subject to caps and PAL/TAL rules, so HR departments must still check eligibility case by case.
Immigration consultants caution graduate applicants to include proof of program level—such as a letter of acceptance specifying “master’s” or “doctorate”—to avoid file returns. They also note that some provinces, notably Ontario and British Columbia, may still request optional attestation letters for data-tracking purposes, even though they are no longer mandatory under federal rules.
Stakeholders expect IRCC to monitor intake numbers closely; if volumes again exceed projections, the department could revisit exemptions. For now, the change signals Ottawa’s intent to prioritize advanced research talent while tightening controls on other study streams.
The PAL/TAL regime, introduced in 2024 to help provinces manage surging applications, required most post-secondary applicants to obtain a quota letter before filing for a study permit. Removing the obligation for graduate students is expected to streamline processing; doctoral applicants are now eligible for two-week processing under the Student Direct Stream. Institutions with large research cohorts, such as the University of Toronto and McGill, say the exemption will help them issue offers without worrying about provincial caps.
For prospective students navigating these changes, VisaHQ can provide end-to-end assistance with the Canadian study-permit process. Through its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/), applicants can verify whether they qualify under the new exemption, generate personalized checklists, and submit paperwork digitally—saving time even when provincial letters are no longer required.
For employers, the decision shores up a critical pipeline of highly skilled talent who often transition to permanent residence through the Express Entry system. Mobility teams sponsoring research staff or offering co-op placements should see fewer administrative delays and can plan onboarding dates with greater certainty. However, undergraduate and non-degree students remain subject to caps and PAL/TAL rules, so HR departments must still check eligibility case by case.
Immigration consultants caution graduate applicants to include proof of program level—such as a letter of acceptance specifying “master’s” or “doctorate”—to avoid file returns. They also note that some provinces, notably Ontario and British Columbia, may still request optional attestation letters for data-tracking purposes, even though they are no longer mandatory under federal rules.
Stakeholders expect IRCC to monitor intake numbers closely; if volumes again exceed projections, the department could revisit exemptions. For now, the change signals Ottawa’s intent to prioritize advanced research talent while tightening controls on other study streams.
