Provincial Attestation Letters
University Canada West is now accepting requests for Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL).
Prospective international students pursuing on-campus studies with an offer letter will receive the link and instructions to request a PAL, along with their LOA, after their deposit is paid. Both documents are required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to apply for a study permit. Please refer to the list of limited exceptions outlined on IRCC’s website.
On January 22, 2025, the IRCC expanded the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) requirements to include students pursuing all university levels of study. At University Canada West, this includes UAP courses.
UCW has received its allotment of PALs available to be given to prospective international students in 2025 who are studying at the undergraduate and graduate level on campus.
The PAL system adds just one more step to the admissions process for international students and UCW is confident that the PAL system has been efficiently integrated into our admissions pipeline for a seamless experience.
University Canada West commends the BC government for taking a balanced approach to implementing federal changes to the international student visa program, accounting for the unique environment in our province. We look forward to continuing to offer quality education and meaningful experiences for our students.
Below is an FAQ about PALs that should answer many of your questions. We look forward to continuing to welcome new undergraduate students to UCW.
The Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL) system is a tool that the provincial government has created to implement the cap on international students mandated by the federal government. PALs are documents issued by institutions to international students who have received a letter of acceptance, which verifies the authenticity of their offer when they apply for their study permit. Institutions have a set number of letters they can issue over the course of a year, which serves to cap the number of new students that can enroll.
In the context of UCW’s program offerings, prospective international students pursuing a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication or Associate of Arts programs will require a PAL along with the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) when applying for their study permit.
Students will be able to request a PAL through UCW after their deposit is paid and they receive their LOA. They will be emailed a link to request their letter. At this time, there are no additional fees associated with the PAL request process.
UCW is currently administering PALs for undergraduate and graduate international applicants. Students who already have received an LOA for the upcoming terms will be emailed the link to request a PALs after the deposit is paid.
Please allow up to three (3) business days for the processing of your PAL request, although processing time may vary if additional information is needed. Requests for upcoming terms are given priority, which might cause a slight delay for other requests in the queue.
Upon obtaining their Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and PAL, it is important that students promptly submit their application for a study permit.
Yes, PALs are only valid for submission in their study permit application before the date specified in the letter. It is important that students apply for their study permit prior to the expiry date.
If an application was denied after being accepted by IRCC for processing, the applicant must obtain a new PAL before reapplying.
If an application was not accepted for processing—as a result of being incomplete or withdrawn—the applicant can reuse the original PAL.
If a denied study permit application is successfully appealed, the applicant does not require a new PAL.
- International undergraduate and graduate online students
- Domestic undergraduate and graduate on-campus and online students
- Visiting students
- Current students
- Please refer to the limited list of additional groups exempt from requiring a PAL outlined on IRCC’s website.
