What changed, and what is about to

Every change below is taken from an official source cited in the country guide. A rule that changed after you started planning is one of the most common reasons a visa is refused.

Already in force

1 September 2026 · proof of funds · Canada

Proof of funds rose from CAD 22,895 to CAD 23,448 for a single applicant, plus CAD 6,318 per family member.
1 April 2026 · work · Canada

A separate co-op work permit is no longer needed for a required work placement.
21 January 2026 · language · Canada

TOEFL iBT moved to a 1-6 score scale aligned to CEFR; both scales reported until January 2028.
1 January 2026 · proof of funds · Canada

Quebec requirement for a single student aged 18 or over rose from CAD 15,508 to CAD 24,617.
1 January 2026 · caps · Canada

Master's and doctoral students at public institutions no longer need a Provincial Attestation Letter.
2026 · caps · Canada

The 2026 cap allows at most 309,670 applications from students needing a Provincial Attestation Letter.
2026 · post-study · Canada

The PGWP eligible field-of-study list was frozen for 2026 at 1,107 programmes.
2026 · tuition · Canada

International tuition fees rose 4% nationally for 2026/27, from 0% in Newfoundland to 8.6% in Saskatchewan.
November 2025 · visa rules · Canada

Doctoral study permit applicants get a two-week processing service.
21 January 2025 · dependants · Canada

Spousal open work permits limited to spouses of master's students on 16-month-plus programmes, doctoral and selected professional programmes.
8 November 2024 · visa rules · Canada

The Student Direct Stream fast-track closed and has not returned.
November 2024 · work · Canada

Off-campus work limit set at 24 hours a week during academic sessions, up from 20 before the pandemic waiver.
1 November 2024 · post-study · Canada

College and non-degree programmes must be linked to a long-term shortage occupation for PGWP eligibility, for permits applied for from this date.
1 September 2024 · post-study · Canada

PGWP requires at least 50% of the programme completed in class in Canada for programmes starting on or after this date.
15 May 2024 · post-study · Canada

Public-private partnership college programmes stopped being PGWP-eligible for same-province students starting after this date.
1 February 2023 · post-study · Canada

Public-private partnership college programmes stopped being PGWP-eligible for cross-province students starting after this date.