Provincial Attestation Letters 

During the 2023-24 academic year, the International Student Immigration Advising (ISIA) team at the University of Toronto was focused on supporting current students in maintaining their immigration status in Canada, amidst evolving regulatory requirements.

In January 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the implementation of Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) as a new requirement for study permit applications. This change necessitated a collaborative response from various departments within the University to ensure that students could navigate this process effectively.

The ISIA team worked closely with the University Registrar’s Office to facilitate the issuance of approximately 300 PALs for current undergraduate students. This effort was crucial in ensuring that students could meet the requirements for maintaining their study permits. In addition to supporting existing students, the ISIA team provided guidance to more than 6,000 new international applicants. This support was essential in helping these individuals understand and navigate the newly established process for obtaining their study permits.

Through their efforts in facilitating PALs and providing comprehensive guidance to new applicants, the ISIA team has played a vital role in assisting students in maintaining their immigration status in Canada. These activities reflect the University’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment for its international student community.