Provincial Attestation Letter
What you need to know
The University of Niagara Falls Canada is now distributing Provincial Attestation Letters for qualifying applicants.
Prospective students preparing to study on-campus at the University of Niagara Falls Canada will now be required to submit a PAL from the Ontario provincial government alongside their study permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
To determine PAL eligibility, all prospective students must receive their offer of admission, pay their required deposit by the deadline indicated in their offer, and complete the PAL Questionnaire shared with them through UNF Admissions. The PAL Questionnaire is designed to assess a prospective student’s application aligns with the requirement set by IRCC and improve their chances of a successful visa permit application.
About the Provincial Attestation Letter
What is a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)?
An attestation letter is a declaration that verifies information and serves as proof that the student has been accounted for under a provincial or territorial allocation within the national cap. In 2024, the Government of Canada announced that, other than a few exemptions, international applicants to post-secondary programs will be required to provide a PAL from the province or territory in which they will study. For studies at UNF, the PAL must be provided by the provincial government of Ontario, the province in which the University of Niagara Falls Canada is located. A Provincial Attestation Letter may also be referred to simply as an “attestation letter”.
Who requires a PAL?
- Undergraduate students
- Graduate students
- Graduate diploma and certificate students
- Visiting students studying at UNF for six months or longer
Who does NOT require a PAL?
- Students requesting study permit extensions at the same Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and level of study as their current study permit.
Note: If you are transferring to UNF from another DLI (for example, another post-secondary institution) or changing to a different level of study, you may require a PAL and new study permit application. Please contact admissions@unfc.ca for further support.
Source: Government of Canada website
PAL timelines
How quickly will I receive my PAL?
Your PAL should be available for download within approximately two business days after you have received confirmation of eligibility from UNF Admissions.
How will I know if my PAL is available?
As soon as UNF receives your PAL, it will be uploaded for you to access via your UNF Applicant Portal through AppHero, in the same location as your Letter of Acceptance package.
Can I obtain my PAL any faster?
To ensure expedited processing, prospective students are encouraged to monitor their emails and respond to any outreach from UNF Admissions as soon as possible.
As soon as your PAL is received from the issuing body associated with the provincial government, it will be uploaded to your UNF Applicant Portal through AppHero.
Frequently asked questions
If you have further questions related to your PAL or the process, email admissions@unfc.ca.
