APPLY FOR A TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA
On November 6, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced several changes to the International Student Program for 2026:
- PAL Exemption: Starting January 1, 2026, incoming graduate students (Master’s or PhD) studying/attending at public institutions will be Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) exempt. Further details are available on IRCC's graduate student website. Applications submitted before January 1, 2026, must still include a valid PAL. Learn how to receive your SFU PAL.
- Faster Processing for Doctoral Students: PhD students and their accompanying family members applying from outside of Canada may qualify for expedited study permit processing, if they apply within the same application. Applications may still be subject to background checks, which may delay processing times.
- 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: IRCC has set a target of 155,000 new international student arrivals for 2026. This target applies to study permit applications made from outside Canada and does not include study permit extensions or in-Canada applications. Learn more about the 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap here.
- Life as a Graduate Student: Prepare yourself for life in Canada by learning about housing options, study costs, employment opportunities, and more.
We encourage students to monitor IRCC’s website for the most up-to-date information and will update our News and Updates page as additional details become available.
Planning a trip outside Canada and the continental US? You may need a valid temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) in addition to your valid study permit to travel back to Canada, unless exempted. You can visit the IRCC website to see if you will require a TRV or an eTA to travel to Canada.
If you do need a TRV and are planning a trip outside Canada, you should apply for a new TRV from within Canada before you leave. Processing times may be very lengthy at peak holiday times such as summer and Christmas, so allow yourself plenty of time.
Alternatively, you may submit an application for a new TRV to be processed from outside Canada while you are away. Immigration officials reserve the right to interview applicants if necessary. You should also keep in mind that if you are submitting your application outside Canada, there may be additional application requirements (e.g. biometrics). For more information, we recommend reviewing the country-specific visa office instructions for the responsible office where you will be applying on the IRCC website.
To review the current, estimated processing times for TRV applications in Canada and outside of Canada, visit the IRCC website.
Please note: Most travellers entering Canada need either an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a TRV. Please visit the IRCC website for more information.
Temporary resident visa (TRV) instruction guides:
Please note these instruction guides are for in-Canada TRV applications
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
For information about how to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization, visit the IRCC website.