Studying in Canada for residents' children and newcomers: the permit cap, PAL letters, costs and grants
Who needs a study permit and who doesn't, how the 2026 cap and the provincial letter work, how much money you must show, how many hours a student may work, and why a permanent resident's child pays far lower fees and qualifies for grants.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026, only 155,000 of them to new arriving students. If you apply on or after 1 September 2026 outside Quebec, you must show $23,448 a year for the student's living costs alone, on top of tuition and travel. None of this applies to the child of a permanent resident or citizen, though. That student is a domestic student who needs no study permit, pays domestic tuition, and can apply for federal student grants worth up to $4,200 a year in the 2026–2027 school year.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.
Who needs a study permit and who doesn't?
A study permit is a document for foreign nationals only. A permanent resident is not a "foreign national" under immigration law, so they never need one at any level of study. For the families of temporary residents, the answer varies:
| Situation | School (up to high school) | College and university |
|---|---|---|
| Child of a citizen or permanent resident who is also a permanent resident | No permit needed | No permit needed, and treated as a domestic student |
| Foreign minor child accompanying a parent who is a citizen or permanent resident | No permit needed | The exemption depends on being a minor, so check with the IRCC tool |
| Minor in Canada with a parent authorized to work or study | No permit needed | The exemption depends on being a minor; after the age of majority, a permit is required |
| Minor arriving with a parent who will apply for a work or study permit | Applies for a study permit before entering, without a letter of acceptance | Needs a study permit |
| Anyone in a program of 6 months or less | No study permit needed | |
Who counts as a "minor" depends on the province's age of majority: 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan, and 19 in the other provinces and territories. Once a temporary resident's child reaches that age, they become an international student who needs a study permit, with everything that means for the cap and fees. If you are not sure about your child's situation, use IRCC's tool to find out if you need a study permit.
The 2026 study permit cap and the provincial attestation letter (PAL)
Since 2024, the federal government has set a maximum number of study permit applications and divided it among the provinces. For your application to count within your province's share, you need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) or territorial attestation letter (TAL), issued by the province through your school. For 2026, 309,670 application spaces were allocated under the cap, with the breakdown announced on 25 November 2025:
| Province | 2026 application spaces |
|---|---|
| Ontario | 104,780 |
| Quebec | 93,069 |
| British Columbia | 32,596 |
| Alberta | 32,271 |
| Saskatchewan | 11,349 |
| Manitoba | 11,196 |
| Nova Scotia | 8,480 |
| New Brunswick | 8,004 |
Who doesn't need a PAL/TAL in 2026:
- Master's and doctoral students at a public institution, a new exemption since 1 January 2026.
- Preschool, primary and secondary students.
- People extending their permit inside Canada at the same institution and the same level of study.
- A few other groups, including exchange students who pay no tuition and some permanent residence applicants.
Note that the spouse of a worker or student, or their adult child, is not listed among the exempt groups on the official page. A letter issued in 2026 is only valid until 31 December 2026.
In Quebec: there is no PAL. It is replaced by the Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), which must include a statement confirming that the student has a place within Quebec's share or is exempt from it. See our Quebec page.
Proof of financial support: the current amounts
A study permit applicant must show they have enough money, without working in Canada, to pay for tuition, living costs and return travel. If the program is longer than a year, they must explain how they will fund the rest of it.
| Number of people | Outside Quebec (applications from 1 September 2026) | Quebec (applications from 1 January 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $23,448 | $24,617 |
| 2 | $29,192 | $34,814 |
| 3 | $35,888 | $42,638 |
| 4 | $43,572 | $49,234 |
| Each additional person | $6,318 after the seventh | $5,254 after the sixth |
These are annual amounts and do not include tuition or travel. Quebec's amounts are set by the Quebec government for the CAQ application and include health insurance for the student and accompanying family. The study permit fee itself, including for an extension, is $150, plus the $85 biometrics fee where required.
Before you look at tuition on its own, build a full budget for housing, food and transport in the first-months budget tool, and compare cities in which province fits your life.
Working while you study: 24 hours a week
An international student may work off campus up to 24 hours a week during academic sessions, and can split those hours across more than one job. During scheduled breaks, such as summer and winter holidays, there is no limit. The conditions:
- Full-time enrolment at a designated learning institution (DLI).
- A program of at least 6 months that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
- A valid study permit that includes the work condition.
- A Social Insurance Number; the steps are in our SIN guide.
Students enrolled only in an English or French language program can't work. Going over 24 hours breaks your permit conditions, and it is one of the reasons people lose the right to work full-time while waiting for a post-graduation work permit decision.
International versus domestic tuition: why your child's status matters
The difference isn't only in the paperwork; it's in the cost too. Under Ontario's college tuition rules, for example, an "international student" is a foreign national authorized to study. Citizens, permanent residents and protected persons are treated as domestic students, and domestic tuition is under an ongoing government freeze through the 2026–2027 school year. Someone who comes from another province before completing 12 consecutive months in Ontario is an "out-of-province student", whose fees can rise by up to 5% a year.
In Quebec: the higher education ministry's policy in force since fall 2026 defines a "Canadian student" as a citizen or permanent resident. A Canadian student who is not a Quebec resident pays an extra amount per credit unit, and is exempt if they show they are "resident in Quebec". Accepted cases include having a parent who lives in Quebec, holding a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), or having lived in Quebec for at least three months without living in another province for more than three months.
The practical takeaway: if your child will get permanent residence soon, waiting for it before starting college can save a lot in tuition. Ask the school's admissions office which documents prove the new status and when the change takes effect, because it usually isn't applied retroactively.
Student loans and grants for permanent residents' children
Federal student aid is available to citizens, permanent residents and protected persons, and you apply through your province's student aid office, such as OSAP in Ontario. The key points:
- Grant for full-time students: up to $4,200 a year, or $525 per month of study, in the 2026–2027 school year. The full grant starts for a single person with income under $38,474 and phases out at $69,987; the thresholds are higher for larger families.
- Grants don't have to be repaid; loans do.
- Federal student loans are interest-free since 1 April 2023, and repayment starts 6 months after you finish school.
- The weekly loan limit rose from $210 to $300 per week of study for 2026–2027, as part of an extension announced on 23 March 2026.
- Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut don't take part in the federal program and run their own aid systems.
In Ontario, OSAP requires 12 consecutive months of residence in the province for the student or whoever's income is counted, and full-time study periods don't count toward it. International students are not eligible for any of these grants or loans.
If your child needs help with high school subjects before applying, search the tutoring directory. For Arabic lessons, see Arabic schools. And remember that the child benefit covers children under 18; the details are in our CCB guide.
Frequently asked questions
My child is a permanent resident. Do they need a study permit for university?
No. A permanent resident is not a foreign national, so they need neither a study permit nor a PAL, and they are treated as a domestic student for tuition and aid.
I'm on a work permit. Do my children need a study permit for school?
If they are in Canada and you are authorized to work, they don't need one from preschool through high school. If they are entering Canada with you for the first time, it's best to apply for a study permit for them before entry; no letter of acceptance is required in that case.
Does a master's student need a PAL in 2026?
No, if the program is a degree-granting master's or doctoral program at a public institution. The requirement was removed for them on 1 January 2026.
How many hours a week can an international student work?
Up to 24 hours off campus during academic sessions, with no limit during scheduled breaks, as long as they study full-time in a program of at least 6 months.
Is a permanent resident's child eligible for Canada student grants as soon as they arrive?
Federal eligibility depends on permanent residence and financial need, but applications go through the province, and each province has residence requirements. Ontario, for example, requires 12 consecutive months, so check your province's rules before enrolling.