Canada Study Permit: PAL Requirements Update for International Students
This means that if you are already studying in Canada, your permit renewal process is unaffected by the new PAL requirement. However, new applicants for certain programs will face an additional step and potentially longer processing times.
Current international students in Canada are not required to obtain a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) for study permit renewals. This update clarifies the requirements for those already enrolled in Canadian educational institutions.
However, new applicants for spring/summer 2024 programs who submitted applications after the January 22 announcement will likely need a PAL and be subject to the government’s cap on international student numbers. Processing times for these applications are estimated to be around 10 weeks as of early March.