Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL)
What you need to know to become an international student at SMU.
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On January 22, 2024, the Government of Canada proposed changes to the study permit application process for new international students. Most new international students will require a Letter of Attestation from the province or territory in which their Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is located to apply for a study permit.
There are some international students that may be exempt from the new measures. To see if you are exempt, please visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
For undergraduate admissions questions, please contact international@smu.ca.
The Nova Scotia Government provides a document that outlines the process for receiving provincial attestation letters.
Download the guide The Nova Scotia Government provides a document that outlines the process for receiving provincial attestation letters.
Download the guideFrequently asked questions (FAQ)
In addition to your letter of acceptance (LOA) from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI), such as Saint Mary’s University, you will need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) to apply for a Canadian study permit. Our Admissions team will issue a PAL after you complete the PAL Questionnaire and Consent form in your application portal and pay your non-refundable admission confirmation deposit.
Most graduate (master’s) level students are exempt from the new IRCC requirements. Some programs, such as the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Applied Economics (PBCAE) and Graduate Diploma in Personnel Psychology will require students to obtain a PAL.
You will need to move quickly as our Admissions team likely has you in the queue to request a PAL from the provincial government. Please log into your application portal and click on “Request a Deferral”. It’s very important that you then email admission.status@smu.ca with your full name, as it appears on your application, and your student ID number (A#). Our Admissions team will do their best to remove you from the PAL queue, process your deferral and transfer your deposit, and request a new PAL for your new intended start date.
International students can defer their admission for one term (September or January intakes) after they pay the non-refundable $3000 CAD admission confirmation deposit. Please note that we do not have intakes in May or July. If your original offer of admission is for the September intake, you can defer to January. If your original offer of admission is for the January intake, you can defer to the following September.
Our Admissions team can contact the provincial government to modify the existing PAL to edit the start date of your program. Please note that the expiry date on the PAL already issued to you will not change. It is, therefore, important that you apply for your study permit (www.ircc.canada.ca) before your PAL expires.
If you are presently in Canada, please check in with our International Student Centre to discuss the process of renewing your study permit. You can connect with our International Student Advisors at international.centre@smu.ca.
If you are presently outside of Canada, you will need a PAL. Please email admission.status@smu.ca.
If you have already started an application, please log in to the application portal. The form is titled “SMU PAL Questions & Consent” and can be found under the required “supplemental items and documents” section.
The $3,000 CAD admission deposit is non-refundable, even if the study permit is not approved. The PAL consent form outlines the terms of the admission deposit. Your admission confirmation deposit is valid for one year from your intended start date. This means you can defer your admission one time after paying the admission confirmation deposit.
Paying the $3,000 CAD in addition to the completed consent form (SMU PAL Questions & Consent) ensures that Saint Mary’s University will request the PAL on your behalf. However, the provincial government then determines whether a student will be issued the PAL. The issuance of your Canadian study permit is up to the discretion of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and obtaining a PAL does not guarantee that your study permit will be granted.
Once you accept your offer and we receive your admission deposit payment, we will automatically request the PAL on your behalf. The time from us receiving the payment to releasing the PAL can take up to two weeks.
You will receive an email regarding a status update to your application. When you login to the application portal, you will find a letter that outlines the instructions on how to download your PAL.
Yes, your provincial attestation letter (PAL) will expire 10 weeks after it is issued. We issue your PAL once you pay your $3000 CAD admission confirmation deposit. International students have until April 30, 2025 to confirm their offer of admission and request a PAL for the September 2025 intake.
Yes, you will need a PAL. We will issue your PAL once you pay the non-refundable admission confirmation deposit.
The PGWP program for undergraduate programs has not changed. However, international students enrolled in master’s programs of two years or less will now be eligible for a PGWP of up to three years. All bachelor and master’s degree programs from Saint Mary’s University that are completed in-person are eligible for a PGWP of up to three years, regardless of the field of study and industry of work.
For questions related to your study permit application, please contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
For questions regarding your application status, contact admission.status@smu.ca.
For questions regarding the PAL process, please contact international@smu.ca.
You may also join one of our upcoming webinars for international students.