The Canadian government has announced a two-year temporary cap on new international students study permit to stabilize the number of international students’ studying in Canada. IRCC allocates study permit quotas to provinces based on their population, and each province and territory then allocates these quotas to its universities and colleges. To implement this measure, as of January 22, 2024, all applicants submitting study permit applications to IRCC must also provide a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) received from the province or territory where they plan to study, exemptions may apply to some applicants.

You may want to read:
Canada to Implement a 2-year Cap on New International Student Permit

For detail on how to apply for a program and enroll 2024. Please refer Canada Study Permits New Update 2024: Change You Must Know About Provincial Attestation Letter.

How to Obtain a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)?

Provinces or territories are currently establishing a procedure for issuing Provincial Attestation Letters to students. It is expected that the PAL procedures will be established by March 31, 2024.

British Columbia B.C.’s Provincial Attestation Letter System

BC’s provincial attestation letter system will be effective starting from 4 March 2024. International students planning to apply for courses at Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) within BC are required to provide a provincial attestation letter during their application.

The international undergraduate student study permit application quota for British Columbia in 2024 will be 83,000. Compared to 2023 where approximately 97,000 study permit applications were received, the amount can be foreseen to be dropped.

In addition, the BC government announced that the allocation ratio for PAL application quotas will be 53% for public post-secondary institutions and 47% for private institutions.

Read B.C. Government’s News Release.

How to Obtain a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) in B.C.?

The provincial attestation letter is a verification document that will be sent from the Province to the institution and then forwarded from the institution to the international applicant.

Students who need to obtain a provincial attestation letter in British Columbia must seek assistance from the institution to which they intend to apply. The institution will request a PAL from the provincial government on their behalf. Students cannot obtain a PAL directly from the government by applying on their own.

TWAimmigration will update more once provinces or territories have announced the procedure for applying for a PAL. 

If you encounter any problems regarding your Study Permit application, feel free to contact us.

Provincial or Territorial Letter PAL Exemptions

27 June 2024 Update

On June 26, 2024, IRCC updated their PAL policy, removing the original exemption for “a temporary resident who has completed a course or program of study that is a prerequisite to your enrolling at a DLI.” This change may affect foreign nationals planning to apply for a study permit in Canada.

2 Februrary 2024 Update

On February 2, 2024, the Canadian Federal Government updated PAL exemption conditions on its website. 

(Feb 2, 2024 Version)
Source: The Government of Canada

Study permit applicants do not need a PAL if they meet one of the following conditions:

• are applying to study in a preschool, primary school or secondary school (up to grade 12)
• are applying to study in a master’s degree or doctoral degree program or
• are in Canada and one of the following situations applies to you:
  • are applying for a study permit extension.
  • have a work permit.
  • are a temporary resident who is a visiting or exchange student studying at a designated learning institution (DLI).
  • are a temporary resident who has completed a course or program of study that is a prerequisite to you enrolling at a DLI. （Updated on 27 June 2024）
  • are under a removal order, but can’t be removed from Canada at this time.
  • have a temporary resident permit valid for at least 6 months.
  • are the family member of a foreign national who lives in Canada and is one of the following:
    • a study permit holder
    • a work permit holder
    • a temporary resident permit holder with a permit that’s valid for at least 6 months
    • a member of armed forces in another country under the Visiting Forces Act
    • an accredited foreign government representative
    • a participant in certain sports activities or events
    • a worker in Canada who is a member of a foreign news company
    • a religious worker

For more details about the PAL exemptions, please visit the Government of Canada.

If you encounter any problems regarding your Study Permit application, feel free to contact us.

If you are interested in applying for a Diploma or Certificate Program in a DLI in Vancouver, you may visit our partner institution Create Career College CCC’s website.