OTTAWA: Canada has decided to further simplify and expedite the study permit process for foreign students wishing to come to the country for higher education, especially Masters and PhD aspirants.
According to a foreign news agency, the Canadian Department of Immigration has said that decisions on PhD candidates’ study permit applications will be made within two weeks.
Under the new policy, from January 1, 2026, students taking admission to Master’s and PhD programs in public institutions have also been exempted from the requirement of a provincial or territorial attestation letter.
According to the policy, graduate students will also be able to bring their family members to Canada, and after completing their education, they will also be eligible for a post-graduation work permit.
According to official statistics, a one-third decrease in the total number of international students in Canada has been recorded compared to 2024. However, during the same period, the proportion of graduate students increased from 12 percent to 21 percent.
The Canadian government says the purpose of the change in policy is to attract talented students and best researchers from around the world to Canada, so that the country’s attractiveness in the field of higher education and research can be maintained.
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