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13 Oct 2026
Canada study permit cap

Canada Study Permit Cap 2027: The Number Students Are Waiting For

Categories Canada, Study Abroad

The Canada study permit cap for 2027 has not been announced yet. A summary published on 3 August 2026 by Redim says Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) plans to set the next national cap and the provincial allocations in fall 2026. That makes the next few weeks important for anyone planning to start a Canadian programme in 2027.

In brief

What is known about the Canada study permit cap for 2026

The 2026 cap allows up to 408,000 study permits, according to Redim. Of those, 155,000 are for new arrivals and 253,000 are for extensions. The total is 7% below the 2025 target of 437,000 and 16% below the 2024 target of 485,000. Provinces and territories received 309,670 application spaces, because some applications will be refused.

The same summary reports that new international student arrivals fell 61% in 2025, a drop of 177,595 people. It also says the number of study permit holders fell 29%, from 928,430 at the end of 2024 to 691,215 at the end of 2025. Redim is a secondary source, so check IRCC for the official figures.

McGill University's Arts Building, a destination for students affected by the Canada study permit cap
Students planning a 2027 start should watch the fall cap announcement.

Why the provincial attestation letter is the key document

Most applicants need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) with their study permit application. The IRCC page on attestation letters says the province where you plan to study issues it, and your school helps you obtain it. The letter confirms you have been assigned a space. It is tied to one school and must be valid when you apply.

The timing rule matters for 2027. IRCC says a PAL is generally valid until its expiry or 31 December of the cap year in which it was issued, whichever is earlier. You cannot use a PAL from a previous cap year. The IRCC page contains no information about the 2027 cap year yet. A reasonable reading is that students applying in 2027 will need a letter issued under the 2027 allocations, but confirm this with IRCC once it publishes.

Who does not need an attestation letter

IRCC lists several exemptions. They include primary and secondary students, students in master’s or doctoral programmes at public designated learning institutions since 1 January 2026, and holders of a Global Affairs Canada scholarship. Students in Quebec generally need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate instead. You need a new letter if you change schools, which has applied since 22 January 2025. You do not need one to extend at the same school and level of study.

The costs and rules students ask about

Redim lists a $150 study permit fee and generally $85 for biometrics when required. It also reports first-year living costs of $22,895 outside Quebec, excluding tuition and transport, adjusted each 1 September. Post-graduation work permit language rules also apply: CLB/NCLC 7 for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates, and level 5 for college graduates. Redim adds that the college route has a field-of-study requirement. Confirm every figure on IRCC’s website before you budget.

How to plan for a 2027 start while the cap is unknown

Consider a hypothetical student, Linh, from Hanoi. She wants a one-year college programme in Ontario starting in September 2027. She has no master’s-level exemption, so she needs a PAL. She should shortlist schools now and ask each one when it expects to receive PAL allocations. She should also keep her funds proof and language results current. Linh is an illustration, not a real applicant.

A master’s applicant at a public institution may avoid the letter altogether. Compare that with Australia, where fees and visa rules are also changing, in our guide to Australia’s student visa reform. Canada’s labour-side rules are moving too, as our report on the work permit freeze in six regions shows. To check your own route, use the visa eligibility checker.

Integrity checks that sit behind the cap

Redim also reports tighter oversight of schools. IRCC found more than 10,000 potentially fraudulent acceptance letters in 2024 and about 4,900 in 2025. Designated learning institutions must report enrolment twice a year, within 60 days, and answer ad hoc requests within 10 days. Since 1 April 2026, students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for a placement that is part of the programme. Redim says this does not increase the number of authorised workers.

Study permit cap questions

Has the 2027 Canada study permit cap been announced?

No. Redim reports that IRCC plans to set the next national cap and the provincial allocations in fall 2026.

What is the 2026 cap?

Up to 408,000 study permits, including 155,000 for new arrivals and 253,000 for extensions, according to Redim.

Do I need an attestation letter?

Usually. IRCC lists exemptions, including master’s and doctoral students at public institutions since 1 January 2026.

Can I reuse a PAL from last year?

No. IRCC says you cannot use a PAL issued in a previous cap year.

What if I change schools?

You need a new PAL. IRCC says this has applied since 22 January 2025.

Sources

13 Oct 2026
US public charge rule

US Public Charge Rule: What 18 September Means for Your Green Card

Categories Immigration, Visa Updates

The US public charge rule changed for green card applicants on 18 September 2026. The 2022 rule was rescinded from that date, and USCIS guidance now applies to any Form I-485 postmarked or filed online on or after it. Officers can weigh a wider range of benefits than before. This guide explains what changed, who is covered and what the bond process looks like.

Jump to

What the US public charge rule changed on 18 September

USCIS released updated Policy Manual guidance on 18 August 2026, as summarised by Visaserve. The guidance follows the rescission of the 2022 rule. The new approach covers adjustment-of-status filings made on or after 18 September 2026.

What officers weigh in a public charge decision

Officers look at five statutory factors: age, health, family status, assets and financial resources, and education and skills. They may also consider a completed Form I-864 and other relevant evidence. One rule is firm. According to Visaserve, no single factor automatically disqualifies an applicant, except failing to provide a required Affidavit of Support.

The US Capitol, where public charge law is set, shown for the US public charge rule explainer
The rule applies to many family and employment green card filings.

Which benefits now count against an applicant

This is the biggest practical shift. For benefits received before 18 September 2026, officers consider only cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term institutional care at government expense. For benefits received on or after that date, officers can consider “any and all means-tested public benefits,” including housing assistance, food stamps and college financial aid, per the summary. The Grape Law firm’s October update states the same split.

The Form I-945 public charge bond

If public charge is the only ground for refusal, USCIS may invite the applicant to post a bond on Form I-945. The bond amount reflects the assistance the person might realistically use over the next five years, per Visaserve. Applicants cannot offer a bond on their own. USCIS typically issues the invitation through a Notice of Intent to Deny and will reject a bond sent without one. The sources do not state a bond amount.

Who is covered and who is exempt

Most family-based and employment-based applicants are generally subject to review. Exempt groups include asylees and refugees, VAWA self-petitioners, T and U nonimmigrants, TPS applicants and diversity visa immigrants. Visaserve notes that the full exempt list is longer. A hypothetical example: Maricel, a Filipino nurse with an approved employment petition, files her I-485 in November 2026. She falls in a category the summary says is generally reviewed. Her salary, savings and work history would form her financial picture. Maricel is an illustration, not a real applicant.

What applicants should do now

Gather evidence of income, savings and employment first. Next, check whether any household member has used means-tested benefits since 18 September. Then complete the Form I-864 carefully if your category needs one. Finally, speak to an immigration attorney before you file, because eligibility turns on facts that a general article cannot assess. Related coverage includes the October 2026 Visa Bulletin and the PERM suspension for IT firms. To see which route may fit you, use our visa eligibility checker. This is general information, not legal advice.

Why a complete filing matters under the new rules

The Grape Law update reports that August 2026 USCIS guidance lets officers deny incomplete filings without first sending a Request for Evidence. That affects EB-1A and EB-2 national interest waiver cases, according to the update. The practical lesson applies to every green card category. Submit every required form and supporting document on the first filing, because an officer may not give you a second chance to fix gaps.

Public charge questions

When did the new public charge approach start?

The 2022 rule was rescinded effective 18 September 2026. The guidance applies to I-485 applications postmarked or filed online on or after that date.

Do pre-September benefits count?

Per the Visaserve summary, only cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term institutional care at government expense count for benefits received before 18 September 2026.

Can I post a bond voluntarily?

No. USCIS must invite a bond on Form I-945, usually through a Notice of Intent to Deny, and it rejects bonds sent without an invitation.

Is any single factor an automatic denial?

Only failing to provide a required Affidavit of Support, according to the summary. No other single factor automatically disqualifies an applicant.

Are refugees and asylees covered?

The summary lists asylees and refugees among generally exempt categories. It says the full exempt list is longer.

Sources

13 Oct 2026
Commonwealth Master's Scholarships

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships Close in 7 Days: Are You Eligible?

Categories Scholarships, Study Abroad, Uk

The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships for 2027/28 close at 16:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October, according to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC). That leaves seven days from today, 13 October 2026. The awards fund study at a UK university from September or October 2027. Candidates cannot apply directly, so the real clock is often earlier than 20 October.

On this page

Who can apply for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

You must be a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country, or hold refugee status granted by one, or be a British Protected Person. You must also live permanently in an eligible country. The CSC list includes Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Uganda, plus many small island states, which the CSC says it particularly welcomes.

You need a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours by September 2027. A lower second-class degree can work if you also hold a relevant postgraduate qualification. You must show that you cannot afford UK study without the award. The CSC does not normally fund a second master’s, and anyone who has studied at master’s level in the UK is not eligible.

The London skyline, where many Commonwealth Master's Scholarships holders study
Many scholars study in London, where the stipend is higher.

What the award pays for

The CSC lists four main items. It pays approved airfare to the UK and back, and it pays full tuition fees by agreement with the university. The monthly stipend is £1,712, or £2,000 at universities in the London area, at current rates. A study travel grant covers study-related travel. Scholars who are widowed, divorced or single parents can also receive a partial contribution of £622 a month for a first child and £154 for the second and third children under 16. Dependants’ airfares are not covered.

Why your nominator’s date matters

This is the point most readers miss. The CSC accepts no direct applications. You apply to a nominating body, such as a national nominating agency, and each one sets its own closing date and extra criteria. The CSC says nominators must put their candidates forward by December 2026, and results are expected by July 2027.

Here is a hypothetical case. Chidi is a Nigerian doctor with a 2:1 who wants a public health master’s in Edinburgh. He sees the 20 October date and plans to apply on 19 October. His national nominator, however, closed three weeks earlier. Chidi is an illustration, not a real applicant, but the lesson is real: confirm your nominator’s date today.

Documents to upload before the deadline

Applications go through the CSC’s online system only, and there is no application fee. You upload a copy of your passport or national ID, full transcripts for all higher education, and two signed PDF references. Transcripts not in English need certified translations. The CSC says applications cannot be edited after submission, and late applications are not accepted. Ask your referees now, because two signed references often take the longest.

The week ahead: a short checklist

Start with the nominator, not the portal. Confirm the closing date and any extra rules. Next, order transcripts and translations. Then brief both referees. Finally, submit a day early to leave room for upload problems. If you miss this round, other UK and European awards close soon. Our guides cover the Chevening 2027/28 timeline and the Gates Cambridge deadlines. A scholarship listing compiled by Global South Opportunities on 8 October also shows Commonwealth PhD awards closing on 20 October.

Not sure which route fits your profile? Try our visa eligibility checker to plan the student visa step that follows an award.

Eligibility traps to check before you apply

Four details trip up strong candidates. First, the CSC prefers applicants who have already finished their undergraduate degree. Second, it does not normally fund a second master’s. Third, anyone who studied at master’s level at a UK institution is not eligible, and neither is anyone who held a Commonwealth Master’s scholarship before. Fourth, you must be free to start in the UK by September 2027. There is no age limit, so mid-career professionals can apply.

Commonwealth scholarship FAQ

When is the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships deadline?

The CSC states 16:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October for the 2027/28 round. Your nominating body may close earlier.

Can I apply to the CSC directly?

No. You apply through a nominating body, and each sets its own closing date. The main route is a national nominating agency.

What is the monthly stipend?

The CSC lists £1,712 a month, or £2,000 for universities in the London area, at current rates.

Is there an application fee?

No. The CSC states that there is no application fee.

Can I edit my application after I submit it?

No. The CSC says applications cannot be edited after submission, and it does not accept late applications.

Sources

12 Oct 2026
Saudi property company registration

Saudi Property Company Registration: What Foreign Firms Must File

Categories Business

Saudi property company registration is now a defined process for foreign firms that want to own property without running a business in the kingdom. Gulf Business reported on 6 June 2026 that the Ministry of Investment added a chapter on registering non-Saudi companies for property ownership to its Investor Guide 2026. The service was available through the ministry’s electronic portal at the time. The piece cites a Saudi Gazette report, and the ministry’s own pages are the place to confirm current rules.

Contents

Who this route is for

The rule covers non-resident foreign companies that want to own property in Saudi Arabia “without engaging in economic activities,” in Gulf Business’s words. It does not cover a firm that wants to trade, hire or run operations in the kingdom. Those firms follow the ministry’s investment licensing process, which the Ministry of Investment site links to.

Saudi property company registration covers foreign firms that want to own property in Riyadh
The north side of Riyadh.

The Saudi property company registration checklist

According to Gulf Business, a foreign company needs six items. It needs a commercial registration certificate from its home country, translated by an accredited office and authenticated by the Saudi Embassy. It needs its articles of incorporation, put through the same translation and authentication process. It needs an authorisation document appointing a company representative, again authenticated. It needs a natural person named as authorised representative through a certified power of attorney. A company without a Saudi-recognised identification document must first get a digital identity through a Saudi diplomatic mission abroad. For annual updates, the ownership structure or management must not have changed since the original registration.

Think of the process as three layers: corporate proof, a named human representative, and an identity the Saudi system recognises. A gap in any layer stops the file.

How this differs from an operating licence

A firm that wants to trade, hire staff or open an office in Saudi Arabia needs an investment licence from the ministry, not this property registration. The two routes answer different questions. The property route asks who owns the real estate and who acts for the owner. The operating route asks what the business will do in the kingdom.

The distinction matters because the property route is limited by design. A company that registers only to own property cannot use that registration to run commercial activity. A company that later wants to earn rent as part of a wider business should speak to a Saudi lawyer before it signs anything.

After registration

The new chapter also covers property management and disposal obligations, bank account procedures, and updates to company and representative details. Each of those steps carries its own paperwork, so plan for ongoing filings rather than a one-time registration.

Take a hypothetical case. Camila is a Colombian investor who owns a holding company in Bogotá and wants to buy an office floor in Riyadh. She would start with her home-country certificate and articles. She would then arrange translations, Saudi Embassy authentication and a power of attorney for a named representative. Camila is an illustration only.

A sensible order for the paperwork

The order below is practical advice, not an official sequence. Start by naming the representative, because that person’s power of attorney and identity documents shape the rest of the file. Next, order certified copies of the home-country registration certificate and articles. Then book accredited translation, because the Saudi Embassy authenticates translated documents. Finally, allow time for the digital identity step if the company has no Saudi-recognised ID, since it runs through a Saudi diplomatic mission abroad.

Keep a single folder with originals, translations and authentication stamps. The annual update rule also means you should keep the company’s ownership and management records stable. A change in either can reopen the process.

What the guide does not tell you

Gulf Business states no fee and no effective date beyond the service being available at the time of the report. Readers should not assume costs or timelines. The report also relies on the Saudi Gazette, and Tamara News has not seen the full Investor Guide chapter. A foreign company should also take local legal advice on tax, financing and title rules, because the chapter covers registration, not every legal question about buying property. This article is general information, not legal advice.

For wider context on how Gulf governments are reshaping business law, read our coverage of the UAE commercial companies law amendments and the latest on OPEC’s output decision. Founders comparing jurisdictions can start with our company formation service.

Saudi registration: quick answers

Who can use this registration route?

Non-resident foreign companies that want to own property in Saudi Arabia without engaging in economic activities.

Who issues the rules?

Gulf Business reports that the Ministry of Investment added the chapter to its Investor Guide 2026.

Do documents need translation?

Yes. The commercial registration certificate and articles of incorporation need accredited translation and authentication by the Saudi Embassy.

Do I need a local representative?

Yes. The company must appoint a natural person as authorised representative through a certified power of attorney.

What does it cost?

The report does not state any fee, so check the ministry’s portal.

Sources

12 Oct 2026
Auckland international scholarship

Auckland International Scholarship: Master’s Offer Needed by 20 Oct

Categories Scholarships, Study Abroad

The Auckland international scholarship for master’s students has a quiet deadline: you need a programme offer by 20 October 2026. The University of Auckland’s scholarship page says new international master’s students who receive a conditional or unconditional offer for Semester One or Quarter Two 2027 by that date are eligible. Eight days remain.

Timeline

Who gets the Auckland international scholarship

The award is the University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship. You do not submit a separate first application. The university invites eligible students to complete a supplementary form. Eligibility depends on a master’s offer for Semester One or Quarter Two 2027, received by 20 October 2026.

Auckland international scholarship applicants study in a harbour city
Auckland’s skyline from Viaduct Basin.

The three dates that matter

Three dates run the process. First, 20 October 2026 is the deadline for your offer. Second, the university issues invitations to the supplementary application on 21 October 2026. Third, you must submit the supplementary form online by 4 November 2026.

Some third-party scholarship calendars list 21 October as the closing date. The university page shows 21 October as the invitation date and 4 November as the closing date, so trust the university.

Why the 20 October date catches people out

Most scholarships ask you to apply. This one works the other way round. The offer is your ticket in, so a late admissions decision can cost you the award even if your grades are strong. Students who applied late in the cycle should ask their faculty for a decision date today. They should also keep every email from the university, because the invitation on 21 October is the only door into the supplementary form.

The timing also affects your visa plans. A conditional offer can start the scholarship process, but a student visa needs an unconditional offer and proof of funds. Treat the scholarship as a bonus on top of your budget, not as the money that makes the plan work. Our guide to the New Zealand Post-Study Work Visa changes shows what comes after the degree.

What the scholarship is worth

The scholarship covers 25% of one year of tuition fees. It lasts one year and applies to a master’s degree at the University of Auckland. The number of awards varies, and the university offers the scholarship twice a year. Faculty or university committees make the awards on recommendation. The page does not list separate selection criteria, and the regulations PDF holds the full terms.

Consider a hypothetical Pakistani IT graduate, Hamza, who applied for a master’s in data science. Suppose a year of tuition cost NZ$40,000, a made-up figure used only for the sum. A 25% award would then be NZ$10,000. Check the real fee for your programme before you plan. If his offer arrives by 20 October, he gets an invitation the next day and has until 4 November to answer. He should read the regulations before he relies on the award, because the page says to check them. Hamza is an illustration only.

Another deadline: York University in Canada

Undergraduates planning ahead have a longer runway. York University lists the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence at C$180,000 in total, paid as C$45,000 a year for four years. The student deadline is 27 January 2027, and the nominee deadline is 4 February 2027. The award suits international high school applicants who show academic excellence, community commitment and leadership. York says the scholarship cannot combine with entrance scholarships, and applicants who qualify for both receive the higher value. See the York international scholarships page for the rules.

What to do this week

You have a short list of jobs, and each one takes less than an hour.

Start with the offer. If you applied for a 2027 master’s and have not heard back, contact the admissions team and ask about timing. Next, gather references and transcripts so you can complete the supplementary form quickly. Finally, check that your email inbox and spam folder can receive university messages on 21 October. If your offer arrives after 20 October, write to the scholarships team and ask whether you can still be considered in the next round.

The university’s wording is the final word. The page says to check the regulations and other information before relying on the details, so read the regulations PDF linked from the scholarship page. A student who meets the offer deadline but misses the 4 November form deadline loses the award for this round.

Scholarship hunters can compare other live deadlines in our guides to the Gates Cambridge scholarship deadlines and the Commonwealth master’s scholarships. Our visa eligibility checker also shows whether your profile fits a New Zealand student visa.

Auckland scholarship FAQ

Do I apply for the scholarship directly?

No separate first application exists. The university invites eligible students to complete a supplementary form.

What is the offer deadline?

You need a conditional or unconditional master’s offer for Semester One or Quarter Two 2027 by 20 October 2026.

When is the final deadline?

The supplementary form is due online by 4 November 2026, and invitations go out on 21 October 2026.

How much does it pay?

It covers 25% of one year of tuition fees, for one year of master’s study.

Does the scholarship run once a year?

The university offers it twice a year, so check the page for the next round if you miss this one.

Sources

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