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What is a Provincial Attestation Letter for Canada?
Amidst all the student visa updates, Canada has come up with new measures to regulate the inflow of international students, one of the most crucial being a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). If you are planning to study in Canada, then the IRCC has mandated to include a PAL with your study permit. It is a significant document that the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires for most post-secondary study permit applicants. It is a confirmation that their student visa for Canada application falls within the national cap on international students. In this article, we will explore more about the attestation letter Canada–how to obtain it, its processing time, and format.
This Story also Contains
- Attestation Letter Canada Update 2025
- What is a Provincial Attestation Letter 2025?
- Who Needs an Attestation Letter in Canada 2025?
- How To Get Provincial Attestation Letter Canada?
- Provincial Allocations for 2025
- Provincial Attestation Letter Processing Time Canada
- Sample Attestation Letter Canada
- Difference Between Attestation Letter for Admission and PAL
Attestation Letter Canada Update 2025
As of now, following are the key attestation letter Canada updates:
It is mandatory for most (except the exceptions) of the international students to submit their PAL (Provincial Attestation Letter) at the time of study permit application.
The DLIs are using several central systems like OCAS (Ontario) and ApplyBoard to streamline the process.
Students are advised to recheck the deadlines as there is an increase in the number of rejections due to missing or expired PALs.
IRCC has stated that the PAL system will continue at least until the end of 2025.
Read more:
What is a Provincial Attestation Letter 2025?
A provincial attestation letter IRCC is an official document that a province or territory in Canada issues to international students. It is a validation that your study permit aligns to the regional cap set by the Canadian government. Since January 22, 2024, it has become a mandatory requirement for international students under the guidelines of the IRCC.
The main purpose of a PAL is to verify that the university that you have selected is approved, the chosen program is valid and your seat is accounted for in the provincial quota. You can get an attestation letter sample or attestation letter PDF directly through your Designated Learning Institution (DLI) as soon as they apply to the province on your behalf.
Who Needs an Attestation Letter in Canada 2025?
The attestation letter for admission applies to most new post-secondary international students, including those pursuing:
Undergraduate programs
Diplomas and certificate programs
Graduate diplomas (non-thesis-based)
Exceptions:
Certain exceptions apply on submitting a PAL, if you are:
A primary or secondary school student (K-12)
A master's or doctoral student
A holder of any scholarship from Global Affairs Canada
Part of an exchange program with no Canadian tuition fees
Enrolled in any of the vocational training programs in Quebec (e.g., DVS or AVS)
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How To Get Provincial Attestation Letter Canada?
Following is the standard process to get the Provincial Attestation Letter for Canada from India across most provinces:
The first step is to get accepted by any DLI (Designated Learning Institution).
Confirm the selected program and pay the tuition fees.
You don’t need to individually apply for the PAL; The institution will do it on your behalf.
Obtain your PAL as a PDF or a physical document.
Upload your PAL along with the study permit Canada application to the IRCC.
Note: It is not possible to apply for the PAL individually; your educational institution will initiate the application request.
Provincial Allocations for 2025
There is a rising concern for accommodation and integration. In response to this, the Canadian government has set a national cap of 437,000 study permit applications for 2025. Following is the allocation by province:
Province or Territory | Study Permit Allocation (2025) |
|---|---|
Ontario | 181,590 |
Quebec | 162,742 |
British Columbia | 76,087 |
Alberta | 47,338 |
Manitoba | 18,591 |
Nova Scotia | 18,602 |
Saskatchewan | 17,641 |
New Brunswick | 14,785 |
Newfoundland & Labrador | 9,182 |
Prince Edward Island | 2,435 |
Northwest Territories | 705 |
Yukon | 464 |
Nunavut | 0 |
Provincial Attestation Letter Processing Time Canada
The attestation letter for Canada processing time varies in different provinces. For example- it takes around 2-4 weeks to process the attestation letter in British Columbia and Ontario, whereas, it takes around 3-6 weeks in Quebec. However, in smaller provinces, the processing time is much faster due to lower demand.
Sample Attestation Letter Canada
While the format might vary, a provincial attestation letter sample includes:
The name of the student and unique DLI number
The chosen program and intake term
Confirmation that the university is approved and included in provincial allocation
Official stamp or digital signature from the specific province
Issue and expiry date
If you want to get an attestation letter for Canada 2025 from India, your university will guide you on how and when to apply for this.
Difference Between Attestation Letter for Admission and PAL
Several students confuse these two documents and think they are the same. However, there is a difference between the two. While the attestation letter for admission is a document that confirms the admission of a student in a specific program, the PAL confirms the provincial seat allocation for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
For students applying from India, the attestation letter for Canada from India is not issued by Indian authorities — it's managed entirely by the Canadian province through your DLI. Stay in constant touch with your institution, and don’t wait until the last minute.
Explore more articles:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is a stamp necessary for attestation?
A:
Yes, a stamp by the respective province or territory is necessary for attestation. Without the stamp, the document will not be valid.
Q: How long does it take to get a provincial attestation letter in Canada?
A:
The processing time for PAL varies according to the province. However, an undergraduate student gets the PAL in around 5-10 days after completing the entire process.
Q: Who doesn't need a provincial attestation letter?
A:
You don’t need a provincial attestation letter, if you are:
Applying to a preschool, primary school, secondary school
Enrolled in exchange programs with no Canadian tuition fees
You have a scholarship by Global Affairs Canada
A master's or doctoral student
Enrolled in vocational programs in Quebec
Q: How to download provincial attestation letters?
A:
Following are the steps to download the provincial attestation letters:
Login to MyServicesHub and sign in.
Click on ‘Admissions’.
Click on ‘Provincial Attestation Letter’.
Click ‘View’ to access your PAL.
Q: What is a Canada provincial attestation letter?
A:
Also known as the Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL), the Canada provincial attestation letter is an official letter issued by the province or territory where you plan to study.
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