Get a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), Apply for a Study Permit and Co-Op/Internship Work Permit
Get a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
Who needs a PAL?
All new international students, with some exceptions, are required to submit a PAL with their study permit application.
Please see this IRCC link to find out if you are exempt from providing a PAL with your study permit application.
How do I get a PAL?
After being accepted, you will need to confirm that the name and date of birth on the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) are correct and match your passport name and date of birth. If there are any errors, notify us in the application portal before fees are paid since the information used on the LOA and PAL must match.
You will receive your PAL directly in the application portal once you have confirmed your seat by paying the tuition fees indicated on your letter of acceptance. If you applied via an agent, they would receive both the LOA and PAL in their Algonquin College application portal.
Once you receive a PAL, you must apply for your study permit before the PAL expiry date listed on the letter
How long will it take to get a PAL?
Please monitor your student application portal, as the PAL will be uploaded after you pay your fees, and once the Government of Ontario has approved it. You should receive your PAL in the application portal within one week of receipt of your tuition fee payment.
Important note: The number of PALs allocated by the Government to each post-secondary institution may be limited. We encourage you to pay your tuition fee and complete your PAL request form as early as possible. Once you receive a PAL, apply for your study permit as soon as possible as PALs are valid until the expiry date indicated on the letter or until the study permit application cap is reached.
Apply for a Study Permit
Apply for your Study Permit online or with the Visa Office/Visa Application Center (VAC) for your country of residence. For instructions, follow these steps on how to apply for a study permit. Most academic programs have a mandatory work requirement. If your letter of acceptance states you have a mandatory work requirement, you must apply for a Co-op/Internship Work Permit in addition to your Study Permit. You may apply for a Study Permit and Co-op/Internship Work Permit at the same time. For information on the Co-Op/Internship Work Permit and steps to apply, please visit Apply for Your Co-Op/Internship Work Permit. Include your PAL in the Study Permit application, and make sure you apply before the expiry date listed on the PAL
Applying for a Study Permit takes time (sometimes months) so make sure you apply as soon as possible. Processing times for Study Permits can vary – get an estimate of how long it will take based on your situation. You should also review the terms and conditions of the Study Permit so you understand your responsibilities when you study in Canada.
Applied for your Study Permit already?
Find out what happens next.
If you will not arrive in Ottawa before your program’s closing date for that semester, you must inform the College by posting a message to the MyAC Learner Community site. You will need to defer your studies. Failure to notify the College may result in the loss of tuition fees. Closing dates vary slightly between programs but the standard is Day 10 for the majority of programs. If the start date is approaching and you do not yet have your study permit, you can inquire about your program’s closing date via your MyAC (the International Application Portal) or via your agent if you have one.
Received a Study Permit Rejection?
If your study permit is refused,you must request a refund within 10 days of receipt of the rejection notice. To do so, you must upload your Study Permit refusal letter from the Visa Office in MyAC Application Portal, or via your agent, if you have one. Please refer to our refund policy.
International students who have received a second study permit rejection from IRCC are not eligible for a deferral or issuance of a PAL.
Withdrawal and refund, as per the Refund Policy for Study Permit rejections, is the only available option for students who have received a Study Permit rejection notice from IRCC.
Received your Study Permit: What’s Next?
Congratulations! It is important to let us know by uploading a copy of your study permit approval letter in the application portal, or via your agent if you have one.*
Please bookmark our New Intake for International Student page as well as our College Online Prep page to prepare for your arrival and studies with Algonquin College.
*Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that you maintain your status and that you are compliant with the conditions of your study permit.
Stay Up-to-Date
International students can stay up-to-date on IRCC changes and access information as it becomes available.