Maple News reports that three additional Canadian provinces—New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador—have implemented systems to issue Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) to prospective international students. The move comes in response to a new federal mandate that links the issuance of study permits to a province-specific allocation system introduced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on January 22, 2024.
The PAL is now a mandatory requirement for international students applying for a Canadian study permit under the 2024 intake cap. It serves as confirmation that the student’s acceptance aligns with the province’s designated quota of study permits for the year.
British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, and Manitoba were the first to adopt PAL frameworks, and now New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Saskatchewan have followed suit. All remaining provinces and territories, including Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Canada’s northern territories, must implement their PAL processes by March 31, 2024.
In New Brunswick, the PAL system has been active since March 18. The process varies by designated learning institution (DLI), but generally includes a requirement for accepted students to confirm their intent to enroll. For example, the University of New Brunswick (UNB) asks incoming international students to log into their student portal and pay a non-refundable tuition deposit. Once submitted, the school will request the PAL from the province on the student’s behalf. Processing typically takes up to two weeks.
Newfoundland and Labrador launched its PAL system on March 19. Memorial University, which hosts the province’s largest population of international students, will contact admitted applicants to collect any required information for PAL issuance. Priority is given to students planning to begin studies in the May 2024 semester.
Saskatchewan began its PAL process on March 13. While detailed application guidance is not yet publicly available from major institutions in the province, students are encouraged to reach out directly to their DLI for instructions.
Maple News will continue monitoring updates from remaining provinces, especially Ontario and other regions that have not yet rolled out their attestation letter systems.
This attestation system marks a significant change in how international students apply to study in Canada, introducing new steps aimed at better managing enrollment numbers and ensuring alignment between student intake and provincial capacity.