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Updated: November 29, 2024
Since January 2024, the Government of Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been implementing changes and updates to the international student program in Canada. Among these changes are setting an intake cap on international student study permit applications for 2024 onward and introducing a provincial attestation letter for study permit applications.
International students are an important part of the Laurier community, enriching our campuses and classrooms. Welcoming international students fosters global citizenship and intercultural understanding for all Laurier students.
At Laurier, we ensure our international undergraduate and graduate students have the wrap-around supports to adjust to life and studies in Canada. As well, we guarantee our first-year undergraduate international students a place in Laurier’s residences.
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A provincial attestation letter (PAL) is a part of the study permit application required by the IRCC. This attestation provides proof that as an international student, you have been accounted for under the allocation. PALs are issued to students by the institution; this means that Laurier will issue PALs to students.
University bound students applying for a study permit for the first time require a PAL. If you are an international student studying at an Ontario highschool with a valid study permit, you do not require a PAL.
There are some other instances where students do not require a PAL. You can see the full list on the IRCC website.
To get your PAL from Laurier, you must:
Once we receive confirmation that you have accepted your offer and paid your tuition deposit, we will begin the process for issuing you a PAL.
Congratulations on being admitted to Laurier! Here's what you need to do next:
After you accept your offer, pay your tuition deposit and receive a tuition deposit receipt from Laurier, you can expect a wait time of 7-10 business days. When your PAL is ready, it will be available in your Applicant Portal.
If you haven't received your PAL after 10 days from receiving your tuition deposit receipt, please contact us at chooselaurier@wlu.ca to check the on the status of your letter.
When your PAL is ready, it will be available in your Applicant Portal.
The PAL is required for your study permit application. Please refer to the IRCC's website for more information on the study permit application process.
You can review the study permit processing times on the IRCC website.
The study permit cap refers to the number of study permits that will be issued to Laurier. This cap will have no impact on how we assess applications or how many offers of admission we issue.
We understand the concerns around getting your study permit in time. If you don’t get your study permit in time to begin classes, we will work with you to discuss your options and how you can still join the Laurier community.
If your study permit application is rejected, you can reach out to us at laurierinternational@wlu.ca and one of our International Student Advisors will work with you to resubmit your application. When you email us, be sure to put in the subject line that your email is about a study permit application rejection.
Your tuition deposit - and any tuition payments made to Laurier - will be refunded if your resubmitted study permit application is not successful.
Yes. Beginning January 22, 2024, all study permit applications submitted through the SDS will require a provincial attestation letter.
Yes. Laurier is a public institution, so all international students who meet eligibility requirements will be able to apply for a post-graduation work permit upon graduation.
Yes, your spouse, along with your children, can apply for visitor visas but your spouse will not be able to work in Canada.
No, a PAL is not required if you need to extend your study permit. See the IRCC website for the full list of who does not require a PAL.
Yes. The changes announced by the IRCC do not impact study permit extensions or renewals. If you have questions about extending or renewing your study permit, contact us at laurierinternational@wlu.ca.
Yes. Laurier is a public institution, so all international students who meet eligibility requirements will be able to apply for a post-graduation work permit upon graduation.
Beginning in January 2025, international graduate students will require a PAL to apply for their study permit. The exact date in January 2025 when this new policy will be put in place has not been confirmed.
Study permit applications from international graduate students submitted before this date will not require a PAL.
To get your PAL from Laurier, you must:
Once we receive confirmation that you have accepted your offer and paid your tuition deposit, we will begin the process for issuing you a PAL.
If your study permit application is rejected, you can reach out to us at laurierinternational@wlu.ca and one of our International Student Advisors will work with you to resubmit your application. When you email us, be sure to put in the subject line that your email is about a study permit application rejection.
Yes. International students studying at the master’s or PhD level who meet eligibility criteria can apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) upon graduation. As well, effective February 15, 2024, a longer, three-year post-graduation work permit will be available to those who are graduating from a master’s degree program that is less than two years and who meet all other PGWP eligibility criteria
No, the IRCC has stated that study permit extensions or renewals do not require a PAL. See the IRCC website for the full list of who does not require a PAL.
Yes. Study permit extensions and renewals are not impacted by the recent IRCC changes.
Yes. International students studying at the master’s or PhD level will be eligible to apply for a post-graduation work permit. As well, graduates of master’s degree programs will soon be eligible to apply for a three-year work permit. Under current criteria, the length of a post-graduation work permit is based solely on the length of the program of study.
Effective February 15, 2024, a three-year post-graduation work permit will be available to students graduating from a master’s degree program that is less than two years long and who meet all other PGWP eligibility criteria.
A postsecondary program taught at a private institution (college or university) that has been given permission to teach the curriculum of an associated public institution (college or university).
A designated learning institution (DLI) is a school approved by the province or territory to host international students. Laurier is a designated learning institution and our DLI number is O19395164307 (note the DLI# starts with the letter O).
A postsecondary degree that is a graduate-level degree. It may also be called a PhD.
The government body that is responsible for the entire country. The Government of Canada is also called the Federal government.
A postsecondary degree that is a graduate-level degree. It is often completed after a student completes an undergraduate degree.
A letter that is included with a student’s study permit application. The PAL will serve as proof that the student has been accounted for under a province or territory’s study permit allocation within the national cap. The process to issue it must be in place no later than March 31, 2024.
The government body that is responsible for the provinces within Canada. There are 10 provinces in Canada and each province has its own provincial government. Laurier is located in the province of Ontario, where the provincial government is the Government of Ontario.
An education institution that receives funding and oversight from the government. Public institutions can be elementary schools, high schools, universities or colleges. Laurier is a public university.
An education institution that does not receive funding from the government. Private institutions can be elementary schools, high schools, universities or colleges.
A province is a division of territory within a country. Canada is a country that is divided into 10 provinces and three territories. Each province in Canada has a government that oversees that particular province. Ontario is one of the provinces in Canada.
The number of study permits that each province or territory in Canada will be given by the IRCC.
The total number of study permits that the IRCC will issue across Canada, beginning fall 2024.
A territory is a division of territory within a country. Canada is a country that is divided into 10 provinces and three territories. Each territory in Canada has a government that oversees that particular territory.