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
As soon as possible. The process for you to complete your study permit application cannot be completed until you have received your PAL.
- 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) on your Mosaic Student Centre account.
- Next, complete the McMaster PAL Tool to determine if you need an attestation letter.
- If the tool indicates you need an attestation letter, once it is ready, you will receive an email from the McMaster Admissions team with instructions on how to download it.
- 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
I am a current international graduate student with a valid study permit. Does this change affect me?
No, you are not affected by these new regulations.
If you are admitted into a master’s degree or doctoral degree program, you do not require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) and should apply for your study permit as soon as you receive your offer letter and letter of acceptance. You can apply for a study permit even if your offer has conditions.
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).
Exchange students staying in Canada for less than six months do not need a provincial attestation letter.
Exchange students staying in Canada for more than six months will need a provincial attestation letter.