Understanding Canada's Updated Rules for Work and Study Permits

Canada has tightened its oversight of temporary residency, granting immigration officers broader authority to cancel or suspend permits. These changes, which have been in effect since early 2025, aim to streamline the system while ensuring permit holders adhere strictly to their authorized stay periods.

Officers can now cancel a work or study permit if they have reasonable grounds to believe a holder will not leave Canada by their deadline. Other triggers for cancellation include administrative errors, inadmissibility, or the refusal of a permit renewal. For the 700,000 people currently in Canada with permits expiring through mid-2026, maintaining valid status and following all permit conditions is more important than ever.

Who is affected

The impact of these regulations varies depending on your status:

• Graduate Students: As of January 1, 2026, Master’s and PhD students at public institutions are exempt from the national study permit cap and no longer require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). This allows for faster two-week processing.
• Undergraduate Students: Most other students remain subject to the national cap of roughly 155,000 permits and must obtain a PAL before applying.
• Work Permit Holders: Those on employer-sponsored or open work permits face stricter scrutiny regarding their intent to leave Canada once their authorization ends.
• Visitors and Nomads: Electronic Travel Authorizations (eTAs) and visas can be cancelled if a traveler is deemed ineligible or if their passport is lost or stolen.

What you need to do

If you are planning to work or study in Canada, stay ahead of the paperwork. Undergraduate students should budget CA$235 for permit fees and must show proof of at least CA$22,895 for living costs plus tuition.

For those already in the country, track your expiration dates closely. If you are seeking to transition from a study permit to a work permit, ensure your application is submitted well before your current status lapses to avoid cancellation under the new discretionary powers. Stay informed on nomad news to catch further adjustments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which may introduce even broader "public interest" cancellation grounds.

Read our full Canada guide for the complete picture.