Need a Study Permit? You’ll Need a PAL First — Here’s What It Is and How to Get It

What Is a PAL?

As of 2024, Canada introduced a national cap on international student study permits. To manage this cap fairly, each province received a limited number of “study permit spots.” In Ontario, those spots are issued through a document called the Provincial Attestation Letter, or PAL.

The PAL is now a required document for most international students applying for a Canadian study permit. Without it, your application will be rejected — even if you have already been accepted by a college.

How the PAL Process Works in Ontario

Unlike other study permit documents, you don’t apply for a PAL directly with the government. Instead, here’s how the process works:

1. You apply and are accepted into a qualifying program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Ontario.

2. The college requests the PAL from the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities on your behalf.

3. Once approved, you receive the PAL directly from the college, usually as a PDF file.

4. You submit the PAL with your study permit application to IRCC.

The PAL is linked to your specific school and program. If you change either, you’ll need a new one.

Why Is This Important Now?

The PAL requirement was introduced to manage study permit volumes and reduce fraud. But it also means that:

• Colleges have limited PALs to issue, and

• Students applying later in the cycle may miss out even if they’re otherwise qualified.

How CollegeApply Helps

✅ Built-in PAL Tracking

We work directly with Ontario colleges to track PAL availability in real time, so you don’t waste time applying to programs that can no longer issue letters.

✅ Automatic Reminders

Once your application is submitted, we guide you through each step of the PAL process and help you ensure it’s submitted with your study permit on time.

✅ One Platform, Full Support

You don’t need to guess what documents you need or where to get them — we walk you through it all.