Study Permit Cap and Attestation Requirement

Summary#

These are new Ministerial Instructions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, issued by The Hon. Lena Metlege Diab, that change how some immigration applications are accepted for processing. Key effects: a cap and a new attestation requirement for many 2026 study permit applications; and a pause on accepting new applications for several permanent-residence streams starting in 2026 and 2026–2030 (dates below).

What it does#

• Study permits (student class)

  • Requires a provincial or territorial attestation letter before a study permit application in scope will be accepted for processing.
  • Limits the total number of such study permit applications that can be accepted in 2026 to 309 670.
  • Each province and territory was given a share of that 309 670 allocation; once a province/territory’s share is used up, further applications for institutions in that province/territory will not be accepted and processing fees will be returned.
  • Lists many specific exclusions (for example: certain renewals, exchange students, primary/secondary level, some graduate students at public institutions, some scholarship and pilot categories). The public list of exclusions and provincial allocations is available from the department.
  • Quebec has special rules allowing some Quebec-issued attestations issued before January 1, 2026 to be reused in 2026.
  • Effective period: January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.

• Home Care Worker pilots

  • For the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot (Child Care) and Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot (Home Support), the number of new applications accepted for processing each year is set to zero starting March 31, 2026.
  • The annual year runs March 31 to March 30. These instructions remain in effect until March 30, 2030 unless repealed.
  • Applications received beyond the allowed number will not be accepted and fees will be returned. Humanitarian-and-compassionate requests tied to applications not accepted will not be processed.

• Start‑up and Self‑employed classes

  • For the Start‑up Business Class and the Self‑employed Persons Class, the number of new applications accepted for processing in a calendar year is set to zero effective January 1, 2026, until further notice.
  • Exceptions for the Start‑up Business Class:
    • Applications supported by a valid commitment certificate received by the department before 12:00 a.m. EST on January 1, 2026, and meeting narrow timing rules, may still be accepted.
    • Among already-accepted Start‑up applications, processing priority will be given to cases that meet specific conditions (for example, a valid work permit in the Start‑up stream or commitments from certain types of investors or incubators meeting minimum amounts such as $200,000 or $75,000).
  • Applications not meeting the instructions will not be accepted and fees will be returned. Humanitarian-and-compassionate requests tied to not-accepted applications will not be processed.

Who's affected#

• International students who apply for a study permit in 2026 and who fall within the instructions’ scope. Many categories are explicitly excluded; if you’re unsure whether your application is in scope, check the department’s list or the attestation rules.
• Provincial and territorial governments, because they were given allocations and must issue attestation letters for applicants in their share.
• Designated learning institutions and their international recruitment plans, since limits and attestations could affect admissions.
• People applying under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot (Child Care) and (Home Support) who plan to submit new applications on or after March 31, 2026 — new submissions will not be accepted until at least March 30, 2030 under these instructions.
• People applying to the Start‑up Business Class and the Self‑employed Persons Class who plan to submit new applications on or after January 1, 2026 — most new submissions will not be accepted. Exceptions exist for certain Start‑up commitment certificates issued before January 1, 2026, and for some already-accepted Start‑up files that meet prioritization criteria.
• Applicants who already submitted applications before the relevant effective dates: the notices say some existing applications received before the cut-off will be handled under the rules that were in force when they were received (for example, study permit files received on or before December 31, 2025).

Why it matters#

• The changes can directly limit how many new international students are allowed into processing in 2026 and make a provincial/territorial attestation a new prerequisite. That can affect where and when students apply, and which institutions they can attend.
• Several immigration pathways for permanent residence (Start‑up, Self‑employed, Home Care Worker pilots) will effectively stop accepting new applications. That affects entrepreneurs, self‑employed applicants, and care workers planning to apply in 2026 and after.
• The rules can change an applicant’s timeline and costs: applications not accepted for processing will have processing fees returned, and some humanitarian-and-compassionate requests tied to those unaccepted files will not be considered.
• Provinces and territories will play a gatekeeping role for some student applications because of the attestation letters and allocated quotas.
• If you are planning to apply in any of these streams, check application timing, whether your category is excluded, and whether you need a provincial/territorial attestation. The Canada Gazette notice and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration website list details and the published provincial allocations.