British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba have commenced issuing Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL) for international students admitted to schools in these three provinces.
Details for each province are as follows:
British Columbia (BC):
The PAL system in British Columbia officially came into effect on March 4, 2024. International students need to submit PAL along with their study permit applications to demonstrate that they have been accepted by a DLI within the limits of that institution. The provincial government agency will issue PALs to institutions, which will then issue letters to international students.
BC announced that they will issue a total of 83,000 study permit applications from IRCC. The province notes that based on the previous acceptance rate, about 50,000 study permit applications will be approved for 2024. This is a decrease compared to 97,000 study permit applications from last year.
BC notes that 53% of PALs will be allocated to public DLIs after high school, and the remaining 47% will be allocated to private institutions. This reduction aims to counter “unsustainable growth.”
Alberta (AB):
As of March 1, Alberta has started issuing PALs, although there is not much specific information about this system yet. DLIs will require PALs on behalf of international students accepted into their institutions. Students need to contact the school’s registration agency for more information and specific requirements. Universities typically notify via email when their PALs are ready.
Manitoba (MB):
According to IRCC, the Manitoba provincial government has started issuing PALs for international students as of March 4, 2024. PALs will be distributed through DLIs across the province. Students need to check the specific requirements of their chosen schools. These requirements may include paying a deposit before PALs are issued.
For those who are unclear, the attestation letter is a tool for provinces to consider admitting international students based on the government’s allocation limits, in line with local workforce needs and provincial capacities. This letter aims to recognize students pursuing programs at designated institutions.
Who doesn’t need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)?
- Elementary and high school students;
- Master’s or doctoral students;
- Students with valid study permits in Canada;
- Individuals holding work permits in Canada and family members in Canada;
- Students in Canada applying for extensions; and
- Students with applications received before 8:30 a.m. (EST) on January 22, 2024.
