Started on March 4, 2024, the provincial attestation letter (PAL) system in British Columbia is officially in effect.
For international students applying for a study permit, inclusion of a PAL with their application is mandatory. This document serves as proof of acceptance by a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) within British Columbia’s allocation. According to the B.C. government, PALs are issued by provincial authorities to the institutions, who then provide them to the international applicants.
British Columbia has been allocated a total of 83,000 undergraduate study permit applications by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Additionally, the province highlights that, based on past acceptance rates, the federal government anticipates around 50,000 approved study permit applications for the year 2024.
In comparison, the previous year witnessed 97,000 study permit applications for undergraduate programs in British Columbia, resulting in roughly 60,000 approved study permits.
According to the province, 53% of PALs will be allocated to public post-secondary institutions, with the remaining 47% designated for private institutions. This represents a 27% decrease in study permit applications for private institutions compared to 2023. British Columbia attributes this reduction to addressing “unsustainable growth.”
British Columbia’s PAL system marks the first release since IRCC implemented a cap on the issuance of study permits for 2024. It is anticipated that other provinces will soon follow suit to meet the March 31 deadline.