Provincial Attestation Letter

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What you need to know

The University of Niagara Falls Canada is now distributing Provincial Attestation Letters for qualifying applicants.

Prospective students preparing to study on-campus at the University of Niagara Falls Canada will now be required to submit a PAL from the Ontario provincial government alongside their study permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

To determine PAL eligibility, all prospective students must receive their offer of admission, pay their required deposit by the deadline indicated in their offer, and complete the PAL Questionnaire shared with them through UNF Admissions. The PAL Questionnaire is designed to assess a prospective student’s application aligns with the requirement set by IRCC and improve their chances of a successful visa permit application.

About the Provincial Attestation Letter

What is a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)?
An attestation letter is a declaration that verifies information and serves as proof that the student has been accounted for under a provincial or territorial allocation within the national cap. In 2024, the Government of Canada announced that, other than a few exemptions, international applicants to post-secondary programs will be required to provide a PAL from the province or territory in which they will study. For studies at UNF, the PAL must be provided by the provincial government of Ontario, the province in which the University of Niagara Falls Canada is located. A Provincial Attestation Letter may also be referred to simply as an “attestation letter”.

Who requires a PAL?

Undergraduate students
Graduate students
Graduate diploma and certificate students
Visiting students studying at UNF for six months or longer

Who does NOT require a PAL?

Students requesting study permit extensions at the same Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and level of study as their current study permit.

Note: If you are transferring to UNF from another DLI (for example, another post-secondary institution) or changing to a different level of study, you may require a PAL and new study permit application. Please contact pal.letters@unfc.ca for further support.

Source: Government of Canada website

PAL timelines

How quickly will I receive my PAL?
Your PAL should be available for download within approximately two business days after you have received confirmation of eligibility from UNF Admissions.

How will I know if my PAL is available?
As soon as UNF receives your PAL, it will be uploaded for you to access via your UNF Applicant Portal through AppHero, in the same location as your Letter of Acceptance package.

Can I obtain my PAL any faster?
To ensure expedited processing, prospective students are encouraged to monitor their emails and respond to any outreach from UNF Admissions as soon as possible.
As soon as your PAL is received from the issuing body associated with the provincial government, it will be uploaded to your UNF Applicant Portal through AppHero.

Frequently asked questions

Your PAL must be submitted along with your study permit application. Failure to do so may result in a closure or rejection of your permit application.

Unless it has an expiry date on it, your PAL is valid until Dec. 31, 2025 – You must submit your study permit application during the timeframe your PAL is valid; expired PALs will not be accepted and could result in your study permit application being closed or rejected.

All prospective students are able, once eligibility is reviewed and confirmed through UNF Admissions, to receive one PAL to support their visa permit application to IRCC. Prospective students identified as eligible to receive a PAL will be requested to confirm details related to their program of study, intake, and personal details to ensure accuracy on their submission. It’s important to note, once a PAL document is generated, it cannot be altered so it’s critical to ensure accuracy when requested to confirm information through UNF Admissions.

All undergraduate prospective students were required to submit a PAL alongside their study permit application prior to Jan. 21, 2025.
Graduate prospective students were not required to submit a PAL alongside their study permit application prior to Jan. 21, 2025, however IRCC could still request a PAL be submitted as part of their assessment of your study permit application.

Your PAL should be available for download within approximately two business days after you have received confirmation of eligibility from UNF Admissions.

No – If your study permit application has been approved, it is because you either submitted your study permit application prior to Jan. 21, 2025, and your program did not require a PAL or you have qualified for a study permit through one of the exemption categories.

If you have further questions related to your PAL or the process, email pal.letters@unfc.ca.

Land acknowledgement

University of Niagara Falls Canada acknowledges that the land we gather on is located on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Hatiwendaronk and Anishinaabe peoples. We also acknowledge the many other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples who call this region home.

We commit to building relationships based on respect, reciprocity, and reconciliation as we work, learn, and gather on this land. Furthermore, we acknowledge that the Niagara region is situated on treaty land, and we stand with all Indigenous peoples, past and present, in promoting the wise stewardship of the lands on which we live.

Designated Learning Institute Number: O287430643972.

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