Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has quietly adjusted the instructions officers use to assess study-permit applications, with immediate effect for files received on or after 1 January 2026. The biggest win is for students enrolled in joint or dual-degree programs that involve more than one institution or province: they now need only a single provincial or territorial attestation letter rather than one from every participating school or jurisdiction, eliminating a paperwork hurdle that often delayed approvals by weeks. (m.economictimes.com)
IRCC has also formalised an exemption—announced in principle late last year—for master’s and doctoral candidates at publicly funded institutions. These graduate students no longer need an attestation letter at all, provided their programme is recognised as master’s- or PhD-level and the application is otherwise complete. Visiting researchers and students restoring status, however, must still supply an attestation. (m.economictimes.com)
![Canada Simplifies Study-Permit Attestation Rules for Joint Programs and Grad Students]()
The move dovetails with Ottawa’s broader cap on new study permits for 2026, set at 155,000—roughly half the 305,900 permits issued in 2025. Officials argue that tighter intake, paired with streamlined rules for high-value programmes, will help provinces manage housing pressure while keeping Canada attractive for advanced research talent. Quebec-specific clarifications were also published, listing vocational and CEGEP streams that remain subject to the letter requirement. (m.economictimes.com)
For designated learning institutions, the change reduces the administrative load of producing multiple attestations and may encourage more inter-provincial joint degrees. Prospective students should review whether their offer letter qualifies as a joint programme and confirm that the single attestation has been uploaded before submitting their application; missing documents will trigger a return without processing. Consultants expect the revised guidance to shave several weeks off processing times for eligible cohorts in the coming intake cycle.
IRCC has also formalised an exemption—announced in principle late last year—for master’s and doctoral candidates at publicly funded institutions. These graduate students no longer need an attestation letter at all, provided their programme is recognised as master’s- or PhD-level and the application is otherwise complete. Visiting researchers and students restoring status, however, must still supply an attestation. (m.economictimes.com)
The move dovetails with Ottawa’s broader cap on new study permits for 2026, set at 155,000—roughly half the 305,900 permits issued in 2025. Officials argue that tighter intake, paired with streamlined rules for high-value programmes, will help provinces manage housing pressure while keeping Canada attractive for advanced research talent. Quebec-specific clarifications were also published, listing vocational and CEGEP streams that remain subject to the letter requirement. (m.economictimes.com)
For designated learning institutions, the change reduces the administrative load of producing multiple attestations and may encourage more inter-provincial joint degrees. Prospective students should review whether their offer letter qualifies as a joint programme and confirm that the single attestation has been uploaded before submitting their application; missing documents will trigger a return without processing. Consultants expect the revised guidance to shave several weeks off processing times for eligible cohorts in the coming intake cycle.
Source: The Economic Times
