Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)

From 2024, some international students wishing to study in Canada will need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the province or territory in which their chosen institution is located.

Although most university and undergraduate college students will need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) to apply for a study permit, there are exceptions to this rule. Students in primary and secondary education, as well as those pursuing a Master’s or Doctoral degree, do not need a PAL to apply for a study permit.

What is a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)?

Sau khi Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)introduced a new cap on international students in January 2024, and some international students wishing to study in Canada will now need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) in addition to aletter of acceptance (LOA)in order to apply for theirstudy permit.

2024 will allow for the approval of up to 360,000 study permits, a figure allocated among Canada’s provinces and territories on the basis of their respective populations. In 2025 this figure will be adjusted to 437,000 study permits, and will include Master’s and Doctoral students.

The PAL is the means by which provinces verify that the acceptance of a particular international student counts towards their respective international student quota. Students must now receive an LOA from theirDesignated Learning Institution in Canada (DLI)– the only institutions in Canada permitted to accept international students – as well as a PAL from the province or territory in which their DLI is located, before applying for a study permit.

Who it applies to

A PAL is required for:

• Most post-secondary study permit applicants (that is, university and undergraduate college students).
• Most non-degree granting graduate programmes (for example, postgraduate certificate and diploma programmes).

A PAL is not required for:

• Primary and secondary school students.
• Master’s or Doctoral students.
• Visiting or exchange students in Canada studying at a DLI.
• Holders of a study permit and a work permit in Canada (including current study permit holders applying for an extension).
• Family members in Canada of a study permit or work permit holder.
• Students whose study permit has been approved and who intend to travel to Canada for an upcoming programme.
• Students whose application was received before 8:30 a.m. EST on 22 January 2024.

The basic steps to obtain one

Under the new PAL issuance system, some international students wishing to study in Canada will first need an LOA from their chosen DLI, and must confirm their acceptance with the institution (usually by paying a deposit). The precise amount and nature of the deposit may vary depending on the specific DLI the international student is attending, so IRCC recommends that students contact the institution directly to understand the details that apply to them.

Once enrolment is confirmed, DLIs will apply for a PAL from the relevant provincial government on the student’s behalf. On receiving the PAL, institutions will provide the letter to the student, who can then use it, together with the LOA and other required documents, to apply for a Canadian study permit.

Contents

Under the ministerial instructions issued by IRCC, a PAL for an international student should include at a minimum the following information:

• Applicant (international student) details:
  • Full name.
  • Date of birth.
  • Address.

PAL in Ontario

Since 28 March 2024, Ontario has begun issuing PALs to international students.

Ontario was allocated 235,000 study permits by the federal government for 2024.

The province’s study permit allocation also comes with a number of conditions for DLIs. The majority of the allocations decided by the provincial government have gone to public post-secondary institutions (96%), with a much smaller share (4%) allocated to private post-secondary institutions and language schools.

PAL in Quebec

Quebec has begun issuing PALs to international students. The province received an allocation of 117,917 study permits for 2024.

IRCC has confirmed that theQuebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)can serve the same function, provided the document contains the following line: “This attestation letter confirms that the applicant has a place within Quebec’s study permit application allocation or is exempt from it”.

The CAQ is a document issued by the Government of Quebec certifying that an applicant has met the province’s admission criteria. International students must submit the CAQ (in addition to the LOA) as part of their study permit application to IRCC.

PAL in British Columbia

Since 4 March 2024, British Columbia (B.C.) has begun issuing PALs to international students.

B.C. was allocated 83,000 undergraduate study permits under the provincial share of the federal study cap. The province has stated that 53% of these documents will go to public post-secondary institutions and the remaining 47% to private institutions.

PAL in Alberta

Since 1 March 2024, Alberta has begun issuing PALs to international students. The province was allocated 40,894 study permits for 2024, representing a slight increase in the number of prospective international students compared with 2023.

As with other provincial systems, international students wishing to study in Alberta should contact their specific DLI to gain a clearer understanding of the process for obtaining this document, and subsequently applying for a study permit.

PAL in Manitoba

Since 4 March, Manitoba has begun issuing PALs to international students. The province was allocated a total of 18,652 potential study permits for 2024.

As with other provincial systems, students must contact their chosen DLI to learn the specific process for obtaining this document from the Government of Manitoba. Further information will be available here once it is made public.

PAL in Nova Scotia

Since 28 March, Nova Scotia has begun issuing PALs to international students.

The province was allocated 20,378 study permits by IRCC for 2024. The majority (89%) of this allocation will go to the province’s universities and Nova Scotia Community College, with the remaining allocations assigned to private career colleges and language schools.

PAL in Saskatchewan

Since 13 March, Saskatchewan has begun issuing PALs to international students.

The province was allocated a potential 15,054 study permits for 2024, representing a slight increase on 2023.

As with other provincial systems, students should contact their chosen DLI for further details.

PAL in New Brunswick

Since 18 March, New Brunswick has begun issuing PALs to international students. The province was allocated 14,651 potential study permits for 2024.

As with other provinces, students should contact their chosen DLI to find out how to apply.

PAL in Newfoundland and Labrador

Since 19 March, Newfoundland and Labrador has begun issuing PALs to international students. The province was allocated a total of 3,153 potential study permits for 2024, representing a slight increase on the previous year.

Students must contact their chosen institution in the province to find out how to apply for and obtain this document. Further information will be posted here once the provincial government announces it.

PAL in Prince Edward Island

Since 27 March, Prince Edward Island (PEI) has begun issuing PALs to international students.

The province was allocated 2,312 study permits by the federal government for 2024. The majority of these allocations—59%—will go to the University of Prince Edward Island, with the remaining 35% allocated to Holland College and 6% to College de l’Ile.

Read more about the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) on the government websitehere.