Frequently Asked Questions: Updates to Canadian International Study Permit Requirements

An attestation is a declaration that verifies information. As of January 22, 2024, the Government of Canada announced that, other than a few exemptions, most international applicants to undergraduate degree and English language pathway programs will be required to provide a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) (external link, opens in new window)  from the province or territory in which they will study. For studies at TMU, the PAL must be provided by the Provincial Government of Ontario, the province in which Toronto Metropolitan University is located. 

Who needs a provincial attestation letter?

• most post-secondary study permit applicants
• most non-degree granting graduate programs (for example, certificate programs and graduate diplomas)
• anyone else not included in the exception list below

Who doesn’t need a provincial attestation letter?

• primary and secondary school students
• master’s or doctoral degree students
• in-Canada visiting or exchange students studying at a designated learning institution
• in-Canada study permit and work permit holders (includes study permit holders applying for an extension)
• in-Canada family members of study permit or work permit holders
• students with applications received by IRCC before 8:30 a.m. ET on January 22, 2024

Source: IRCC - Additional information about International Student Program reforms (external link, opens in new window) , retrieved April 3, 2024

Please also consult IRCC - Study permit: Get the right documents - Who doesn't need a provincial attestation letter (external link, opens in new window)  for further details on PAL exemption criteria.

No. The new attestation letter requirement only affects study permit applications submitted on or after January 22, 2024. If you submitted your study permit application before 8:30 a.m. ET on January 22, 2024, you do not need to submit a PAL.

Note: The tuition deposit for international students has increased from $500 CAD to $1,500 CAD. This change represents an increase in the tuition deposit amount, and not an overall tuition increase. If you already paid the $500 CAD deposit, please submit the $1,000 CAD balance by the tuition deposit deadline in order to confirm that your full deposit has been paid.

Once you have received your Offer of Admission and Letter of Acceptance (LOA), you will be required to accept your offer and pay your tuition deposit. Once your payment has been processed, TMU will request a PAL on your behalf if it is determined that you need one.

We will notify you via your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal if a letter has been requested for you and once it is ready for download via MyServiceHub. Further instructions will be provided when your PAL is available.

Yes, you must accept your Offer of Admission and pay your tuition deposit before TMU can request a PAL on your behalf.

After you have accepted your Offer of Admission and submitted your tuition deposit, we will notify you via the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal if we have requested a PAL for you and when it’s ready.

Please remember that it can take several days for a payment to be processed by your bank and TMU.

Please follow the instructions if you have been notified via your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal that your PAL is ready for download.

It is in your best interest to download your PAL as soon as possible. Although you technically have until the deadline cited in your Offer of Admission to accept your offer, and until June 6, 2024 (or the date stipulated in your Offer of Admission, if different) to submit your tuition deposit, it is in your best interest to do both as soon as possible to receive your PAL in enough time to submit an application and receive a study permit for the start of classes. Your PAL includes an expiry date.

Since the length of time to receive a study permit can vary substantially, submit your application as early as possible to provide enough time to comfortably receive an answer and begin the planning to arrive and settle in Toronto for your studies at TMU.

Your PAL should be available for download within approximately three business days after we have received your tuition deposit and you have accepted your Offer of Admission.

As soon as we receive your PAL, we will notify you via your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal. You will then be able to download it from MyServiceHub. 

Please follow the instructions if you have been notified via your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal that your PAL is ready for download.

Unfortunately there is no way of decreasing the time to receive your PAL. On average, your PAL should be available for download within approximately three business days after we have received your tuition deposit and you have accepted your Offer of Admission. 

As soon as we receive your PAL from the issuing office, we will notify you via your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal that it is available for download from MyServiceHub. Please follow the instructions if you have been notified via your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal that your PAL is ready for download.

As a result of the recently introduced Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) requirement for most study permit applications, TMU is unable to offer year-long inbound exchange placements for the 2024/2025 academic year. However, at this time, TMU can offer a one-semester placement as this duration of stay does not require a study permit or a PAL.

After arriving in Canada, inbound exchange students who want to study at TMU for more than one semester may be able to apply for a study permit under the temporary resident exchange student (external link, opens in new window)  PAL exemption provision. Check out the full document requirements (external link, opens in new window)  for a study permit application. After arriving at TMU, please reach out to your exchange coordinator to inquire about extending your studies. We cannot guarantee that this request will be granted since extending your studies will depend on placement availability and government regulations.

For questions related to immigration, such as your temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) application, please reach out to International Student Support at issask@torontomu.ca.

For questions related to your exchange, please reach out to your exchange coordinator or global.learning@torontomu.ca.