Provincial Attestation Letter
The University of Niagara Falls Canada is now distributing Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL) for qualifying applicants.
Prospective on-campus undergraduate students with an offer letter will receive their PAL along with their LOA, after their deposit is paid. Both documents are required to apply for a study permit.
The PAL system adds just one more step to the admissions process for undergraduate students and UNF is confident that the PAL system will be efficiently integrated into our admissions pipeline. Below are Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about PALs that should answer many of your questions. We look forward to continuing to welcome our new undergraduate students to UNF.
About the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) & Eligibility
1. What is a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)?
a. An attestation letter is a declaration that verifies information. As of January 22, 2024, the Government of Canada announced that, other than a few exemptions, most international applicants to undergraduate degree and English language pathway programs will be required to provide a Provincial Attestation Letter (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.
2. Will I need a PAL for my study permit application?
a. Who requires a provincial attestation letter?
- Most post-secondary study permit applications.
- Most non-degree granting graduate programs (for example, certificate programs and graduate diplomas).
b. Who does NOT require a provincial attestation letter?
- Primary and secondary school students
- Masters 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 with applications received by IRCC before 8:30 a.m. EST on January 22, 2024
Source: Additional information about International Student Program reforms.
3. I submitted my study permit application before January 22, 2024. Will I need to submit a PAL?
a. No. The new attestation letter requirement only affects study permit applications submitted on or after January 22, 2024. If you submitted your study permit application before 8:30 a.m. EST on January 22, 2024, you do not need to submit a PAL.
PAL Timelines
1. How quickly will I receive my PAL?
a. Your PAL should be available for download within approximately three business days after we have received your tuition deposit.
2. How will I know if my PAL is available?
a. As soon as we receive your PAL, we will upload it for you to access via your UNF Applicant Portal in the same location as your LOA package.
3. Can I obtain my PAL any faster?
a. Unfortunately, there is no way of decreasing the time to receive your PAL. On average, your PAL should be available for download within approximately three business days after we have received your tuition deposit.
As soon as we receive your PAL from the issuing office, we will upload it to your UNF Applicant Portal in the same location as your LOA package.