A provincial attestation letter (PAL) is a document issued by the province where you plan to study. For students coming to the University of Ottawa, it confirms that you’ve been assigned one of the available spots to study in the province of Ontario. Most international students must include a PAL with their study permit application unless they qualify for an exemption. 

Note: Study permit applications for master’s or PhD programs submitted starting January 1, 2026, will no longer need to include a PAL.

You must include a PAL with your study permit application if you’re an international student admitted to an undergraduate program or to a graduate certificate or diploma program, who is:

• Applying from outside Canada (except exchange students).
• New to uOttawa and applying from inside Canada.
• Changing institutions (e.g., from high school or another post-secondary institution in Canada to uOttawa).
• Applying to restore your status and extend your study permit.
• Someone whose previous study permit application was refused.

Note: These are just examples of situations where a PAL is required. In general, if you’re not exempt from the PAL requirement, you must include a PAL with your study permit application.

You don’t need a PAL if:

• You were admitted to a Master’s or a PhD program and you submitted your study permit application on or after January 1, 2026.
• You applied for your study permit with an offer of admission from uOttawa and are now extending the permit from within Canada to continue studying at uOttawa at the same level of study (undergraduate or graduate) as your current permit.
• You are applying to renew your temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA).
• You’re an exchange student coming to uOttawa through an official exchange program.
• You’re applying for your study permit through the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP).
• You have Convention refugee or protected person status in Canada.
• You qualify for a temporary public policy for citizens of certain countries and you submit your study permit application before the policy expires.
• You have received a scholarship from Global Affairs Canada.

If you’re exempt from the PAL requirement for your study permit application, you can download our sample PAL exemption letter to use as a starting point for writing your own letter. Once completed, submit your personalized letter with your study permit application through the IRCC portal.

• Your PAL only needs to be valid when you submit your study permit application.
• PALs issued in 2025 expire on December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. UTC.
• Submit your study permit application at least one day before your PAL expires.

To receive a provincial attestation letter (PAL), complete the following steps:

1. Accept your offer of admission.
2. Pay your admission deposit.
3. After we receive your admission deposit, the uOttawa Admissions Office will email you your PAL within approximately three business days.

Make sure that the name and date of birth on your offer of admission are exactly the same as on your passport. This information will be included on your PAL. Once your PAL is issued, the details can’t be changed and the PAL can’t be reissued.

Please note: If you’re paying your deposit from outside Canada, it may take up to 14 business days for the payment to be received and processed.

If your study permit application is refused and you intend to submit a new application to IRCC, you must request a new PAL. Follow these steps:

1. Email a copy of your IRCC study permit refusal letter to the uOttawa Student Immigration Advising Team at [email protected].
2. Include the following in your email:
   • Your full name exactly as it appears on your passport
   • Your mailing address

You will receive your new PAL by email within approximately five business days.

The immigration information on this page has been reviewed and endorsed by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs). While we aim to keep it accurate, it could change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.