Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)

A two-year cap was placed on the number of new study permits that will be issued by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and most study permit applications submitted to IRCC will require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from a province or territory. 

Note:

  • This cap does not apply to students who are currently in Canada and will be applying to extend their study permits. 
  • The cap will not apply to degree-seaking students in Master's and PhD programs

Common Questions about the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)

Who does the PAL requirement apply to?

As of January 22, 2024, the attestation requirement applies to newly admitted students applying for a Study Permit outside Canada:

  • Undergraduate students (Bachelors and After-degree programs)
  • ESL students 
  • Students admitted to any other study program that is longer than six months in length AND does not lead to a Masters or a PhD degree (for example, Campus Saint-Jean programs)

Note: Students who submitted their SP application prior to 8:30 a.m. on January 22, 2024, will not be impacted. 

An attestation letter is not required in the following scenarios:

  • In-Canada study permit and work permit holders applying to extend their stay as a student (includes study permit holders applying for an extension)
  • In-Canada family members of study permit or work permit holders
  • Master’s or doctoral degree students applying for a study permit outside Canada 
  • In-Canada visiting or exchange students applying for study permit inside Canada 
  • primary and secondary school students
  • Students whose applications were received by IRCC before 8:30 a.m. ET on January 22, 2024
Detailed information can be found here.
Does the PAL requirement apply to students who are currently in Canada and want to apply for extension?

No, the attestation letter process does not apply to study permit extension applications. 

When and how should I receive my PAL?
Once you've accepted your offer and paid the tuition deposit, the U of A will request your PAL from the Province of Alberta. Once your PAL is available, the university will send an email to the email address you used on your admission application to let you know that your PAL is available for you to download. Please refer to the information posted on the IRCC website here.
How can I access my PAL?

Until April 30, 2024, your PAL will be uploaded to your UAlberta Launchpad portal. You will receive an email stating that your PAL is ready for download.

As of May 1, 2024, your PAL will be sent via MyCreds account. You will receive an email from MyCreds (noreply@mycreds.ca) and will need to follow the instructions in this email to download your PAL. Keep an eye on your email; there is a possibility that this email notification may get directed to the Spam/Junk folder in your email inbox. For details, please visit this page. Click here to learn how to download your PAL from your MyCreds account.

Would the PAL also be required for current international students outside of Canada (i.e. a returning student who is applying for a new study permit outside Canada if their most recent study permit expired while they were out of the country)?
If your study permit is expired and you are outside Canada, you will be required to submit a Study Permit application outside Canada following the instructions posted on our website, and you will require a PAL. To request a PAL, please contact an International Student Specialist via the Student Portal or schedule a virtual appointment here.
Am I guaranteed a Study Permit if I receive a PAL?
Receiving a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) does not guarantee a study permit approval. Study Permit applicants are required to meet all the requirements in order for a study permit to be issued.
If I am currently an undergraduate student in Canada who is going to complete undergraduate studies this year, would the PAL requirement apply for me if I apply to a graduate school in Canada?
No, the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) requirement does not apply to students applying to extend their study permits from inside Canada. Furthermore, it does not apply to student groups listed in the response to question 2 above.
I am an undergraduate student admitted for Fall 2024 and I submitted my Study Permit application on January 22, 2024 without the PAL, what do I do? I am not in Canada yet.

If your study permit application was submitted to IRCC before 8:30 am ET on January 22, 2024 , your application will not be impacted. 

If your study permit application was submitted to IRCC after 8:30 am ET on January    22, 2024 , your application will be returned to you.

I'm a newly accepted undergraduate student for fall 2024, when should I apply for my study permit?
If you did not submit your study permit application to IRCC before 8:30 am on January 22, 2024, you must wait to submit your application until you are able to meet the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) requirement. In the meantime, please start gathering other documents required for your study permit application.
How is the PAL different from or interacts with the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) verification process

The PAL process and the LOA Verification process are two different processes. 

  • The Provincial government is responsible for administering the PAL process. If you are not exempt from the PAL requirement, this process must be completed before you submit your Study Permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You must submit your PAL to IRCC along with your Letter of Acceptance when applying for a Study Permit. For University of Alberta students, the PAL process is administered by the Province of Alberta; details are here. 
  • Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) administers the LOA Verification process. Students are not required to take additional steps to initiate this process.
Who can I contact if I have further questions about the PAL process or study permit application process?