Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) for International Students

Manmeet Kaur
[Published 10 Mar, 2024 | 12:03 PM]
About Author - 6 min read
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Attention Students!

If you’re planning to study in Canada in 2024, there are a few things you must be mindful of.

International students make a significant contribution to Canada’s communities, campuses, and economy. However, seeing the unsustainable growth in the International Student Program in the past few years, IRCC has requested international students to provide a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from a province or territory with their study permit application.

This step has been taken to ensure to improve system integrity and ensure an overall positive experience for students in Canada.

What is an Attestation Letter?

As per the updated IRCC policy, if you applied or intend to apply for Canada study visa from India on or after January 22, 2024, you need to provide an attestation letter to get your study permit, along with the usual supporting documents.

This applies to most new post-secondary international students at the college or undergraduate level. If your application is without a PAL - unless otherwise exempt - IRCC will return your application.

Each province and territory set a limit to the number of students they can support in their educational institutions. So, the Provincial Attestation Letter confirms that your spot has been reserved within the set allocation. 

Who needs a Provincial Attestation Letter?

The following applicants need to include a PAL in their Canada study permit from India application:

• Applicants of post-secondary study permit
• Applicants of non-degree granting graduate programs – certificate programs and graduate diplomas
• Any applicant who’s not included in the exception list

Who doesn’t need a Provincial Attestation Letter?

The following applicants don’t need to include a PAL in their Canada study permit from India application:

• Students of primary and secondary school
• Students of master’s or doctoral degree
• Students who are visiting or are exchange students enrolled at a Designated Learning Institution
• Students on a study permit in Canada and work permit holders (this includes those study permit holders who have applied for an extension)
• Family members in Canada of study permit or work permit holders
• Students whose study permit applications were received by IRCC before January 22, 2024

More Updates you might have missed:

If you’re planning to apply for Canada study visa from India in 2024, here are some more updates you must know about for a smoother transition and better experience in Canada:

1. Temporary cap for international students in Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a temporary cap on the number of international students who will be issued a Canada Study Visa. This cap is expected to be around 360,000 approved Study Visas – a decrease of 35% from 2023. IRCC will also introduce caps for each province and territory.

2. Updates to the International Student Program

IRCC has revised the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for international students. Started on December 1, 2023, the Designated Learning

Institutions (DLIs) across Canada now verify the LOA of every study permit application directly with IRCC. This has been done to protect new students in the country from scams while making sure their study permits are issued on genuine LOAs.

3. Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

Starting February 15, 2024, a longer, 3-year PGWP will be available to students who will graduate from less than 2 years of a master’s program. Of course, students have to meet all other PGWP eligibility requirements.

The length of this work permit for other programs will continue to be the same as their study program, which is a maximum of 3 years.

4. Open work permit eligibility for spouses

IRCC has also updated the eligibility of open work permits for spouses of international students. Now, the spouses of only those international students who are enrolled in graduate (master’s and doctorate) and professional degree-granting programs will be eligible to apply for an open work permit.

When in effect, spouses and partners of students from India seeking to extend their existing work permit will continue to be eligible under this stream.

If you’re studying an undergraduate, college program, or other, your spouse is no longer eligible for an open work permit – unless they already have the permit.

With changes to the old programs and the launch of new ones, IRCC aims to streamline the 2024 study visa process for international students. If you are planning to apply for a Canada study visa from India this year, keep these changes in mind.

Need help?

Seek professional advice from the best immigration consultant in India, Nationwide Visas. Our team of highly professional and qualified immigration experts is equipped with the ability to assess your case and advise the most suitable course of action for best serving your needs.

Good Luck!

Read More: Canada announces cap on Study Visa for International Students