Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) Explained

What a PAL is

A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is a document from a Canadian province or territory confirming that an international student is accounted for within that jurisdiction's allocation for study-permit applications. The Government of Canada introduced the PAL requirement in January 2024.

This is general information, not immigration advice. The rules for the PAL are set by IRCC together with the provinces and territories and can change, so always verify the current requirement on the official Government of Canada source.

Who issues it

A PAL is issued by the province or territory where you plan to study, not by the federal government and not directly by IRCC. In Quebec, the equivalent document is a Quebec Acceptance Certificate-linked attestation issued under that province's process.

Provinces and territories set their own steps for issuing a PAL. In many cases the institution that admitted you is involved in the process, so check both the official Government of Canada source and your destination province or territory for how a PAL is obtained.

• Issued by your destination province or territory
• Quebec uses its own provincial attestation process
• Your institution is often part of how a PAL is obtained

Who needs a PAL

Since January 2024, most study-permit applicants must include a PAL (or the Quebec equivalent) with their application. Without a required PAL, an application can be considered incomplete.

Because the requirement applies to most — but not all — applicants, do not assume your case based on someone else's. Confirm whether you need a PAL for your specific program and situation on the official Government of Canada source.

Who is exempt

IRCC lists categories of applicants who are exempt from the PAL requirement. The exempt categories are defined by IRCC and have been updated over time, so the current list is what matters.

Rather than relying on older summaries, check the official exemptions on the Government of Canada source to see whether your situation is included. If you are not clearly exempt, plan on the basis that a PAL is required and verify before applying.

How the PAL fits into your application

For most applicants, the PAL is one of the documents submitted as part of the study-permit application, alongside items such as an acceptance letter and proof of funds. It does not replace any of those other requirements.

Because obtaining a PAL is a separate step handled by the province or territory, factor the time it may take into your planning. Confirm the exact sequence and current rules on the official Government of Canada source. This is general information only, not immigration advice.