Provincial Attestation Letter or Territorial Attestation Letter

From 8:30am ET on January 22, 2024, most students applying for a study permit in Canada will need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). On this page, we delve into what PALs are, who needs them, and how to get them in each province.

What is a Provincial Attestation Letter?

To address Canada’s housing crisis and some other issues in Canada’s international student program, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced an additional document requirement for study permit applicants: The Provincial Attestation Letter.

Each province will need to issue the PAL to study permit applicants. It will show that the study permit application has been allocated within the national cap on international students that was implemented in January 2024. Basically, it’s a letter from the province showing that it has not exceeded the number of students it is allowed to accept that year.

Study permit applicants who are not exempt and who do not provide a PAL with their submission will have their application returned, along with their fees.

Who Needs a PAL?

Any study permit applicant who is not exempt (see more below) will need to provide a PAL with their application. This includes (but is not limited to) international students applying for the following:

• Certificate and diploma programs.
• Undergraduate degrees.
• Study programs longer than 6 months.

Who Doesn’t Need a PAL?

The following categories of international students are exempt from the Provincial Attestation Letter requirement:

• Preschool, elementary, and secondary school students.
• Master’s and PhD students.
• Students applying for a study permit extension.
• Visiting or exchange students.
• Temporary residents completing a course or program of study that is a prerequisite you to enrolling at a DLI (such as language courses).
• Individuals in Canada under a removal order.
• Individuals holding a temporary resident permit with at least 6 months remaining.
• Individuals who are the family member of a foreign national who lives in Canada and is a study permit holder, work permit holder, temporary resident with a permit valid for at least 6 months, a member of armed forces in another country under the Visiting Forces Act, an accredited foreign government representative, participants in certain sports activities or events, a worker in Canada who is a member of a foreign news company, or a religious worker.

Does the Provincial Attestation Letter Expire?

Yes, each Provincial Attestation Letter comes with an expiry date. Unless it is otherwise stated on the PAL you receive from your school, the expiry date for PALS issued in 2024 is January 21, 2025.

How To Get a Provincial Attestation Letter

The educational institution is responsible for applying for a PAL for you. It is not something you will apply for directly.

PAL/TAL Validity Periods

The validity of a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter depends on the study permit cap year:

• 2025 Study Permit Cap Year

  • Valid until December 31, 2025,

  • Applies if your PAL/TAL was issued between January 22, 2025, and December 31, 2025.

Important info: Your PAL/TAL must be valid when you apply. You cannot reuse one issued during a previous cap year.

When to Reuse or Get a New PAL/TAL

You Can Reuse Your PAL/TAL If:

• It’s still valid, and
• Your previous study permit application was either:
  • Withdrawn voluntarily (after being accepted for processing but before a decision), or
  • Not accepted for processing (your fee was refunded and no decision was made).

 You Must Get a New PAL/TAL If:

• It has expired or is no longer valid,
• Your last study permit application was approved or refused,
• You’re changing schools, or
• You’re changing your level of study, such as:
  • Moving from post-secondary to graduate, or
  • From graduate to post-secondary.

If you’re reapplying to study in Quebec, check whether you must renew your provincial authorizations.

Studying in Quebec: The CAQ Requirement

Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)

Quebec is the only province in Canada that does not issue PALs. Instead, anyone intending to study in Quebec must first obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), officially known as the Certificat d’acceptation du Québec, which is issued by the Government of Quebec.

Your school or study consultant can assist you with the application process.

Who Needs a CAQ

Most students studying in Quebec — even those not required to have a PAL/TAL — still need a valid CAQ, with very few exceptions.

CAQ Validity and Special Notes

• A CAQ issued before January 22, 2025 will still be accepted for the 2025 cap year, as long as it’s valid at the time of application.

• It must include the following statement:

  “This attestation letter confirms that the applicant has a place in Quebec’s share of the distribution of study permit applications or is exempt from it.”

• CAQs issued before January 22, 2024 (8:30 a.m. ET) do not require this line.

Reusing a CAQ

You can reuse a valid CAQ for a new study permit application — regardless of the outcome of your previous one — unless you’re changing your level of study.

When changing schools, reusing your CAQ is allowed only if:

• It was issued before December 6, 2024, and you’re moving to another school at the same study level, or
• You’re a minor (primary or secondary level) and your CAQ is not tied to a specific school.