POSTPONE YOUR ARRIVAL
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.
If your study permit application is delayed, you may consider arriving late or applying to defer your admission.
Undergraduates
If you are new to Canada, we do not recommend missing more than the first week of classes as it is very difficult to catch up. Contact your professors or an academic advisor for advice.
If you need to apply to defer your admission, please see the deferral information on the Admissions website. You should also refer to the deadlines information online to see course drop dates, tuition and enrollment deadlines.
Graduates
Please contact your Supervisor or Graduate Secretary for assistance. You should also refer to the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Fellows office website for information regarding procedures and important deadlines. Note that financial penalties will apply if you fail to drop your courses within the first 13 days of the term.
Exchange Students
Please contact exchange@sfu.ca.