Introduction to Provincial Attestation Letters

Background

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regulations for study permit applications have changed. Effective January 22, 2024, all international students requesting a study permit to study in Canada require a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from the province or territory where they intend to study.

For more details about PALs, including a list of exemptions where a PAL is not required, see the Provincial attestation letter section of the Government of Canada website.

Study permit applications received by IRCC that do not include a PAL when one is required will be cancelled and returned to the student.

Study permit applications that were received by IRCC before January 22, 2024, do not require a PAL.

Purpose

IRCC allocates each province and territory a maximum number of study permit applications to be accepted for processing in a year. For details about this new policy, see the February 3, 2024, edition of the Canada Gazette. The purpose of a PAL is for a province or territory to confirm they have a space for a study permit application within their provincial or territorial allocation.

IRCC has provided Ontario with a maximum number of attestation letters, which the province has allocated to each designated learning institution (DLI). The assumption is that not all attestation letters (and thus study permit applications) will lead to an approved study permit.

The following rules, set out by IRCC and communicated via the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU), apply to the attestation letter maximum:

• For 2024, the timeframe is from January 22, 2024, until January 22, 2025. (Note: This date is to be confirmed.)

• IRCC and the MCU will revisit the proposed attestation letter cap for 2025.