Canada — the highest-leverage study destination of 2026.

Study in Canada with a real PGWP at the end of it.

Master’s and PhD applicants are exempt from the 2026 study-permit cap. Undergraduate applicants need a PAL/TAL. Both pathways lead to a PGWP and Express Entry — if you pick the right institution and program.

Book a chance for a free consultationCheck your eligibility
2026 Canadian study facts

What changed, and what didn’t.

Federal rules current as of April 2026. Provincial allocations vary — we file under the right province for your program.

Total study-permit cap
2025
437,000
2026
408,000 (– 7%)
New-arrival permits
2025
~485,000 issued
2026
155,000 cap
Master’s / PhD
2025
Counted in cap
2026
Exempt from Jan 1 2026
PAL / TAL required
2025
Most provinces
2026
Required (UG); not for grad school
Work limit during study
2025
Unlimited
2026
24 hrs / week (from Mar 2 2026)
PGWP language requirement
2025
Not required
2026
CLB 7 (uni) / CLB 5 (college)
PGWP eligible fields
2025
Updated quarterly
2026
Frozen for 2026
Where students go

Top regions for international students in 2026.

Toronto, Waterloo, Ottawa
Toronto, Waterloo, Ottawa

University of Toronto, Waterloo (co-op), Western, Queen’s, Ottawa. Largest provincial allocation, most competitive.

Vancouver & Victoria
Vancouver & Victoria

UBC, SFU, UVic. BC PNP Tech and International Graduate streams active. PGWP-to-PR pipeline well established.

Calgary & Edmonton
Calgary & Edmonton

University of Calgary, U of Alberta. Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) for graduates. Lower cost of living.

Montreal
Montreal

McGill, Concordia, U de Montreal. Separate Quebec selection certificate (CAQ) required. French-speaking pathway.

How a Canadian study permit gets filed

Six weeks of preparation. One filing window.

Profile & program

Match your background to PGWP-eligible programs at DLI institutions. Avoid business diplomas (excluded from PGWP for college-level).

PAL / TAL or grad-exemption

Provincial Attestation Letter for undergraduates; grad-program applicants are exempt as of January 2026.

Documents & funds

GIC + first-year tuition proof, IELTS / TEF, statement of purpose, biometrics. Documents tailored to the visa office for your country of residence.

Filing & landing

IRCC online filing, port-of-entry strategy, SIN setup, PGWP eligibility tracking from week one.

Quick fit check

Are you ready to file in the next 60 days?

Score my profile now
  • Letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution
  • Funds for tuition + CAD $20,635 (single applicant) for 2026
  • IELTS-Academic 6.0+ or TEF B2+ (varies by program)
  • Clean immigration history (or full disclosure of any prior refusals)
Study in Canada — academic + post-study CRS

Two scores, side by side.

Where do you sit on Canadian admit-likelihood today, and where does that put you on Express Entry once your PGWP and 1–3 years of Canadian work are in hand?

Question 1 of 7
Your GPA / percentage
Live preview
79/ 100
Strong admit at top-tier Canadian universities
Your GPA, IELTS, and funded year-1 plan are competitive at U of T, UBC, McGill, Queen’s, and Waterloo. Build the shortlist around fit and post-study work, not admit risk.
Projected CRS in 3 years
499
PNP closes the gap
Thousands of success stories. Are you the next?

See Our Testimonials

Hear firsthand from clients about how our expert guidance helped them gain clarity, build
confidence, and achieve their immigration and education goals.

4.8 Rating
Google
Based on 160 reviews.
Gagandeep K.Study Visa

Excellent experience with my study permit application. Every step was explained clearly, documents were handled accurately, and my permit was approved smoothly within 1 month.

Aastha T.PR

Amazing detail orientation and risk-taking capabilities which was really required in my case. I was able to get my bridging open work permit and PR confirmation thanks to their guidance.

Gurpreet S.Work Visa

I recently received my Open Work Permit under the temporary public policy. They don't make any delays and are always ready to answer queries via phone or email. One can trust them without any worries.

Moheer K.Visit Visa

So happy I opted for Chase to process my family's visit visa. Both Priya and Sana are helpful and available to cater to any query. The process is easy — very responsive on WhatsApp and email too.

Kishan K.Study Visa

Great experience with my PGWP application. Applied on August 26 and approved on January 29. Communication throughout was very smooth. Professional guidance and excellent administrative support.

Augusta E.Work Visa

Very happy I chose Chase Global for my open work permit. They are very professional. Their positive attitude and effective communication made the process seamless.

Lovepreet R.PR

Excellent experience filing my PR application. The transparency provided made it seamless and effortless. Very fast in submitting an application and reciprocating. Highly recommend.

Prabhjot S.Work Visa

Outstanding experience with my vulnerable open work permit application. Their expertise ensured my application was handled efficiently — I received my permit in just 15 days.

Nikita K.PR

We got our Canada PR approved within a year. They guided us in each and every step of our filing. Can't thank them enough for making our dream come true.

Amaka O.Work Visa

My work permit was just approved within 1 month. Chase Global Immigration is my best immigration consultant — you guys are very good at what you do.

Maulik P.Visit Visa

Very supportive and encouraging every step of the way. It only took us less than 2 weeks to get my parents' visitor visa approved! They relieved us from all the stress of tedious processing.

Taranpreet K.Visit Visa

My dad had 2 rejections before. Thanks to Chase Immigration — with their amazing work and proper guidance, my father's super visa was approved within one month. So happy with the result!

Honest answers

Canadian study permit questions for 2026.

  • For master’s and PhD applicants at public DLIs, no — you’re exempt. For undergraduates, the cap is real but each province publishes its own allocation. We file under the province with the strongest current allocation for your profile.

  • It’s enforced from 2 March 2026. The limit applies during academic sessions only; full-time work is allowed during scheduled breaks. We model your finances against the cap before you commit.

  • College-level business diplomas after 1 November 2024 are not PGWP-eligible. Most other college-program fields remain eligible per the frozen 2026 list. We pick programs from the eligible list only.

  • Standard processing varies by visa office — commonly 8–16 weeks in 2026. We file with biometrics and medical exam pre-positioned to avoid mid-process delays.

Canadian institutional associations

Public universities, polytechnics, and DLI-eligible colleges.

Our application team works with 100+ Canadian Designated Learning Institutions across Ontario, BC, Alberta, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces. Filter to see who we route applications through.

* Information shown for informatory purposes only and is subject to change. Final partnership status, intake availability, and entry requirements are confirmed during your consultation.

Fall 2026 intake closes earlier than you think.

Most Canadian universities lock in by April for September. Book a free assessment now.

Other study destinations

Compare with these.

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Study in the UK

2-year Graduate Route through Dec 2026.

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Study in Australia

Subclass 500 + 2–4 years post-study.

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Study in Germany

Tuition-free public unis + 18-mo job search.

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Compliance & informatory note
Informatory and consultation only

All information published on this page is for informatory and consultation purposes only. It does not constitute legal, immigration, financial, or admissions advice. Any decision affecting your case should be taken only after a personal consultation with our team and a written engagement letter.

Subject to change — current trends

Information reflects current trends as of the most recent update. Visa rules, fee schedules, intake windows, and entry requirements change regularly and depend on individual circumstances. For the most up-to-date position that applies to your case, please contact us or check directly with the relevant authority before acting.

Currency and official sources

Fees and cost figures are shown in US Dollars (USD) unless otherwise noted; conversions are indicative. For legally binding requirements, always visit the official country-specific government website (IRCC, UKVI, USCIS, Home Affairs, BAMF, ICA, etc.) or the official test/admissions partner site before paying any fee or submitting an application.

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