IRCC International Student Cap: Policy Change January 2024

On Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced measures to stabilize growth and cap international student study permit applications. These temporary measures will be in place for two years.

Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)

The Government of Canada mandates the inclusion of a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) in the application process for international students seeking to study in Canada.

This document serves as evidence that the student has been allocated a spot within a province's quota for study permits under the national cap. You will need to submit your PAL with your application for a study permit.

Most international students starting in the fall 2024 semester, winter 2025 semester and on will need a PAL to apply for their study permit. 

You will need a PAL if:

• you are an international student attending an undergraduate degree program, a diploma program or a certificate program 
• your situation is not described in the IRCC's PAL exception list.

You do not need a PAL if:

• you submitted your study permit application before 8:30 am ET on Jan. 22, 2024
• you are already in Canada and seeking an extension on your study permit or work permit
• you are in Canada with a family member who has a study permit or a work permit
• you are a temporary resident who has completed a course or program of study, such as SAIT's English Language Foundations, that is a prerequisite to enrolling at a designated learning institution
• you are already in Canada with a temporary resident permit valid for at least 6 months.

Recommendations for Obtaining a PAL

To prevent delays with the application and obtaining a PAL, please follow these steps:

1. Create an application on the Virtual Application System (VAS) with accurate applicant’s information:
   • Applicant’s name: must match the student’s passport.
   • Date of birth: must match the passport.
   • Email: Insert the student’s personal email address.
   • Mailing address: Provide the student’s current mailing address; avoid using an agency’s address to prevent delays.
2. Important considerations:
   • Single name applicants: If the applicant has only one name (either first or last name) it will appear under the last name field on the PAL.
   • Mailing address: Input the applicant’s mailing address. Using a third party address (such as an agency’s) for the mailing address will delay the generation of PALs.
   • PAL request form and application status: Wait until the application status has been updated to “Conditional Confirmed or Unconditional Confirmed” in VAS. Submitting a request with an unconfirmed status will result in a declined request and significant delays.
     • Multiple programs: If the applicant is confirmed in two programs, only the second program name will appear on the PAL, but the duration will cover the length of both programs.For example, if the applicant is confirmed for the bundle Data Analytics Post-Diploma Certificate and Management and Leadership Certificate programs, the PAL will only show Management and Leadership Certificate but the program length will be for a duration of two years (covering both academic years).
   • Updates and corrections:
   • The PAL team does not update or correct applicant addresses, program names, or dates in the PAL. The current PAL issued should be used for the study permit application.
   • One PAL per province: Each applicant will receive only one PAL per province. If a PAL has been issued by another post-secondary institution in Alberta, no second PAL will be issued.
   • PAL expiry: If the PAL will expire before submitting a study permit application to IRCC, a new PAL should be requested.

What these changes mean for international students

Students with existing study permits

If you already hold a study permit, you will not be impacted by the changes announced by IRCC on January 22, 2024. 

Students starting in the fall 2024 semester

We have now established a process for new students to request a PAL. As an accepted student attending SAIT for the fall 2024 semester, you will receive a PAL request form by email. Please fill out the request form.

SAIT will request a PAL for you from the Government of Alberta, and once we receive it, we will send it to you. This process should take approximately 3 business days after you fill out your PAL request form.

If you applied to a Professional Continuing Education program, please contact Continuing Education and Professional Studies for assistance. 

❗️Once you have received your PAL, it is essential to submit it alongside your study permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Students applying for the Winter 2025 semester

Applications will be reviewed, and applicants will be selected based on program admission requirements and proof of English language proficiency. We strongly recommend uploading all supporting documents and carefully answering all application questions for the best outcomes.

After receiving an offer letter, please pay your tuition deposit. Once your seat is confirmed, you will receive a PAL request form by email. Please fill out the request form.

You will need to include both your letter of attestation and letter of acceptance with your study permit application. Processing time from deposit payment to receiving your letter of attestation is anticipated to be approximately 3 business days.

Apply for your study permit with SAIT and BorderPass

SAIT has partnered with BorderPass to offer all direct international applicants access to its premium Canadian immigration services.

BorderPass offers access to trusted immigration lawyers and legal services via a digital platform.

New applicants who have been accepted and received a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) can use this service to apply for their study permit.

This service is exclusive to applicants who aren’t working with an Agent.

How to apply with Borderpass

Open work permits

At this time, the spousal open work permit is no longer available for spouses of study permit holders.

Open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students in master’s and doctoral programs. The spouses of international students at SAIT studying toward a certificate, professional certificate, diploma, or degree will not be eligible for open work permits.

However, if you already hold a study permit and your spouse has an existing open work permit, you will not be impacted by the changes announced by IRCC on January 22, 2024. Your spouse should be able to apply for an open work permit extension.

IRCC has yet to clarify if they will limit spousal open work permits for current PGWP holders.

In place of the open work permit, your spouse may be eligible for a study permit, visitor visa or working holiday visa. Other family members will require a visitor visa to accompany you to Canada.

We recommend you consult with an immigration lawyer or someone who has IRCC designation to understand your family's options. 

Post graduate work permit (PGWP)

SAIT is a public institution, and therefore most of our programs are post-graduation work permit-eligible. The IRCC's announcement has no impact on any of our programs regarding PGWP eligibility. 

IRCC will not be making any changes to the PGWP length for two-year programs. However, our post-diploma certificates will no longer qualify for the new, longer PGWP announced on January 22, 2024.

Additionally, none of our programs are based on public-private partnership license.

To view which SAIT credit programs meet PGWP eligibility requirements, visit programs and courses open to international applicants. View which SAIT Continuing Education and Professional Studies programs meet PGWP requirements here.

Support

Support is available through the International Centre if you have additional questions and concerns related to these IRCC changes.

If you are a professional certificate student, contact Continuing Education and Professional Studies.

Academic help is also available through the Lamb Learner Success Centre, and mental health support is available through Student Development and Counselling.

Make an appointment with an advisor