International students who wish to do their undergraduate university studies in Canada and are in their country of origin can now begin to process their study permits in three more provinces, namely New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador, the last group of provinces to date to establish a system for issuing provincial attestation letters (PALs). This was announced by the IRCC on March 18, as part of the new changes effective January 22, 2024, which require provinces to issue an attestation according to the number of study permits they have been issued under this year's limit of acceptances. 

In recent Immiland articles, we have kept track of the provinces that started issuing PALs, so far they are: British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador, details of the rest of the provinces not mentioned remain to be known. You can read our informative blog on Canadian migration here. 

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Let's remember what a provincial certification letter (PAL) is.

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The Provincial Certification Letter (PAL) is a Canadian government requirement for international students who are arranging their study permits from their home country, which functions as a verification document sent by the province where the student wants to study to the institution, and then by the institution to the international applicant. Until January of this year, the certification was a requirement handled by the province of Quebec, but now it has been extended to the whole country. 

The letter will serve as proof that the applicant has been counted within the maximum established by the federal government. Applicants will submit the certification letter with their study permit application in order to process their visa to Canada. 

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How to get a PAL in these three provinces?

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Each of these provinces, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador, requires the international student to go through the application process for this provincial certification letter following some slightly different steps, depending on the designated learning institution (DLI), which is why the international student must contact their respective institution to apply for their PAL, it is also possible that the DLI will email the admitted student to obtain required information to apply for the provincial acceptance letter and will notify them back via email when it has been processed. 

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What is a designated learning institution?

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The designated learning institution, or DLI, is a Canadian provincial or territorial school authorized by the government to admit international students. It is this government-authorized school status that determines the DLI's commitment and competence to manage provincial acceptance so that the foreign student is admitted under this new requirement. 

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Immiland Canada's recommendations for applying for your PAL and choosing DLI

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Regardless of how each province and its institutions handle the process, Immiland recommends that international students stay in communication with their DLI for this process. If you have any questions about how to do this, you can write to Immiland's education department to have a certified advisor clarify your concerns or guide you through the process. Click here.

Some aspects to keep in mind about DLIs are:

• Be very careful when choosing the institution where you are going to study because if it loses its designation status or government authorization during your process, then your permit application may be rejected. 
• Be sure to enroll in a DLI with all the legal records, there are many people who take advantage of the illusion of foreigners with the desire to improve themselves who want to come to Canada to study, but unfortunately they enroll in fake schools that make them waste time and money.
• Verify that the acceptance letter is from a DLI, otherwise your study permit application will be rejected.
• If you plan to stay in Canada after your studies and apply for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), you need to be sure that the school offers it upon completion of your studies.
• It is also very important to choose the right program because only certain DLIs will make you eligible for one.

Immiland Canada has numerous partnerships with universities and colleges that lead to a PGWP and you will be able to work while you qualify to apply for your permanent residency; we also have cost benefits where you can save the registration fee if you register with us. Write us at info@immilandcanada.com and an advisor will contact you to answer your questions and, if you wish, can take care of 100% of your admission process. Make an appointment.

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I hope this information will be useful to start classes this year in Canada!

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With love,

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Immiland