Posted by : Shreya Bhattacharya
Author Designation : Senior Counselor
Canada student visas now require a PAL
International students make important contributions to Canada’s campuses, communities and economy; however, there has been unsustainable growth in the International Student Program in recent years. The government is trying to make the process easier for students by introducing reforms like the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) process that will support sustainable population growth in Canada and improve system integrity while helping to ensure that international students have a positive experience in Canada.
What is a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)?
Following a new international student cap imposed by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in January of 2024, some international students wishing to study in Canada will now need a PAL in addition to a letter of acceptance (LOA) to apply for their study permits. The study cap—which in 2024 will allow up to 360,000 approved study permits this year—is divided among Canada's provinces and territories, based on their respective populations.
The PAL is a method by which province's verify that the acceptance of a specific international student contributes to their respective allocation of international students. When students receive an LOA from their Designated Learning Institution (DLI)—the only schools in Canada allowed accepting international students—they must also receive a PAL from the province or territory that their DLI is located in, before applying for their study permits.
Each province or territory is charged with developing their own framework for issuing PALs, with each being slightly different. Below all individual frameworks are covered in detail.
PAL is a letter written and signed by a provincial or territorial government of Canada confirming that an international applicant has a space within the provincial or territorial allocation for study permit applications and must include the following information of the foreign national: full name, date of birth, and address(of home country).
Who needs a PAL?
PALs are a requirement for:
- Most post-secondary study permit applicants (i.e. undergraduate university and college students); and
- Most non-degree granting graduate programs (for example, certificate programs and graduate diplomas).
PALs are not required by:
- Primary and secondary school students;
- Master’s or doctoral degree students;
- In-Canada visiting or exchange students studying at a DLI;
- In-Canada study permit and work permit holders (including existing study permit holders applying for an extension);
- In-Canada family members of study permit or work permit holders;
- Students who have already been approved for a study permit and intend to travel to Canada for an upcoming program; and
- Students whose application was received before 8:30 a.m. EST on January 22, 2024.
Canada international student scenario
Canada has emerged as a global education hub, attracting thousands of international students seeking quality education and promising career prospects. Indian students have found Canada to be a popular destination to study abroad. There are currently more than 8 lakh international students across all study levels who had study permits in Canada in 2022, according to information from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).*
Indian students have been choosing programs to study where there is a great demand in labor markets, including programs that address significant demand for employees in healthcare, home building, energy, engineering technology, early childhood education, cyber security, etc. in Canada.
What is a Provincial attestation letter (PAL)?
PAL is a letter written and signed by a provincial or territorial government of Canada confirming that an international applicant has a space within the provincial or territorial allocation for study permit applications and must include the following information of the foreign national: full name, date of birth, and address(of home country).
Conditions for PAL as a study permit application by an international student to Canada
- In order to be accepted for processing, any study permit application subject to these Instructions that was received after the coming into effect of these Instructions must include a provincial attestation letter.
- Study permit applications received by the Department after the coming into effect of these Instructions that do not include a provincial attestation letter will not be accepted for processing, and processing fees will be returned.
Which provinces of Canada have announced their PAL process (as of 19th March 2024)
Here are the specific provinces that have announced their Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) process and started rolling out letters to students
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Quebec
- Ontario (begun on 30th March 2024)
How to get your PAL/What is the process to get a PAL?
- The PAL process is simple and efficient
- Student receives LOA from the institution after submitting the application
- Student accepts the offer and informs the institution/fills out the request form
- The institution informs the province and PAL is released to the institution to be shared with the student
- Issuing PAL is the responsibility of the institution & the province.
For prospective international students, this Canada student visa news may be the most immediately important, especially for those planning to study in provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia etc. The need for a provincial attestation letter (PAL) adds an additional step to the application process, emphasizing the importance of thorough preparation at the aspiring student’s end. In British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, PALs are now being issued directly to universities and colleges, with institutions then disseminating them to students as appropriate. This approach aims to facilitate the application process by involving educational institutions in the issuance of PALs. Remember to gather all necessary documents before applying for your study permit, and consider applying before your travel to Canada.
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