As of January 22, 2024, most new post-secondary international students at the college or undergraduate level must provide a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from a province or territory with their study permit application.
International students whose applications were received by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada before January 22, as well as those who have already been approved for a study permit will not need a PAL.
There are no changes to work conditions as long as students continue to meet the requirements.
Spouses of undergraduate students will no longer automatically qualify for open work permits but may be able to arrive as visitors or apply for alternative Work Permit pathways, if qualified.
- Undergraduate students
- Graduate diploma and certificate students
- Exchange students staying in Canada longer than six months
- Visiting student researchers staying in Canada longer than six months
- McMaster Continuing Education students
- Master’s or doctoral degree students
- In-Canada visiting or exchange students studying at a designated learning institution
- In-Canada study permit and work permit holders (includes study permit holders applying for an extension)
- In-Canada family members of study permit or work permit holders
- Students whose study permit application was received before January 22, 2024
The Government of Canada has indicated that study permit applications submitted without attestation letters will be returned. Applicants should wait until they have received their attestation letter.
Congratulations again on receiving an offer of admission to McMaster University! We can’t wait to see you this Fall.
We’re here to guide you through the next steps you need to take to confirm your spot at McMaster.
- Accept your McMaster offer on the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre(OUAC) website.
- Pay the admissions deposit ($2,000 CAD) and download your attestation letter (if applicable) from your Mosaic Student Centre account.
- Not sure if you need an attestation letter? Complete the McMaster PAL Tool to determine if you need an attestation letter.
- Upon receiving your attestation letter from McMaster, you can then proceed to apply for your study permit through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. Be sure to check the IRCC website to verify the required documents for your study permit application.
- For questions about the study permit application process, please reach out to immigration@mcmaster.ca
For all other questions, please reach out to international@mcmaster.ca
Yes, applicants to graduate diploma programs are not exempt from these new changes. You will need to use the McMaster PAL tool to determine if you are eligible to obtain a PAL.
If you are planning to join McMaster as a visiting graduate student, please email our McMaster immigration advisors for help in determining your immigration needs, including whether you will need a PAL, email immigration@mcmaster.ca
In your email, please include the following information for assessment:
- dates of your visit
- your country of citizenship
- your intended activity (e.g. research, taking courses)
If you are conducting research, please indicate how your visit is funded (e.g. the name of your scholarship).
As of November 2024, exchange students are exempt and do not require an attestation letter.