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  1. U of G Homepage
  2. Student Experience
  3. Admission
  4. Provincial Attestation Letters

Provincial Attestation Letters

Supporting Your Journey to the University of Guelph

Updated: April 20, 2026

A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is a required document that some applicants need to provide when they apply for their Study Permit, unless they meet one of the exceptions.

Please Note: As of January 1, 2026, master’s and doctoral degree programs are exempt from requiring a PAL.

If you have not yet applied to the University of Guelph, please visit one of the three links immediately below for more information based on your student group:

  • International Undergraduate Admission
  • International Undergraduate Transfer Admission
  • International Graduate Admission

Students working with a third-party agent or representative are responsible for connecting with them to ensure all PAL communications have been received.

New International Student Pre-Arrival Guide
Immigration Information

Jump to a Section:

  • How to Get Your PAL
  • Not Your First PAL Request
  • Immigration and Pre-Arrival Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Information for Other Student Groups

How to Get Your Provincial Attestation Letter

Select your student type below for instructions.

Please note: If this is not your first time requesting a PAL, or you are a current international student at U of G requiring a PAL, please contact the GPS Advisors, gpsadvisor@uoguelph.ca for assistance.

Step 1: Accept your offer to U of G

You must apply to the University of Guelph and accept your offer before beginning the PAL process.

Step 2: Verify that you require a PAL

Review the Government of Canada website to ensure you are required to submit a PAL with your study permit application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure you have all of the required documents when applying for a study permit.

If you believe you may qualify for an exemption, please schedule an appointment with our Global Pre-Arrival Support (GPS) advisor as soon as possible to review your circumstances.

Step 3: Attend a Study Permit 101 Webinar

Select a date from the calendar below to learn what comes after your offer of admission, understand current IRCC requirements, and how to prepare a strong study permit application. You will gain clarity on required documents, PAL requirements and exemptions, and realistic processing timelines.

Webinar attendance is required to request a PAL from U of G.

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Step 4: Pay your $2,000 CAD International Tuition Deposit

This deposit will be applied to your student account and is not an additional fee. Instructions to pay your deposit, deadlines, and refund policies can be found on the international tuition deposit page.

Once you have paid your deposit, you must save proof that the deposit was sent as a PDF to provide to U of G (see step 4).

Step 5: Upload documents to WebAdvisor

WebAdvisor is your tool for course selection, finances, and more. You will become more familiar with this as you prepare to join us this fall. Login information was/will be emailed to you shortly after accepting your offer of admission.

  1. Visit the ‘My Documents’ page on WebAdvisor.
  2. Upload a scanned copy of your passport to the item "Passport Verification - PAL"
  3. Upload your proof of deposit payment to the item "Deposit Verification - PAL"
  4. Once the documents have been uploaded, the status on WebAdvisor will show as ‘received’

If you have any issues with document uploads, please email gps@uoguelph.ca.

Upload my Documents

Step 6: Wait for next steps

Once your documents are received, U of G will issue a PAL. You will be notified by email once it’s ready for you to download from WebAdvisor.

Step 7: Apply for your study permit

Once you have received your PAL, follow the instructions on the IRCC website to complete your study permit application.

3 students looking at a book in a study space

Immigration and Pre-Arrival Support

U of G’s Global Pre-Arrival Support (GPS) Advisor is a central point of contact for new international students from the moment you receive an offer of admission through to your first semester.

The GPS Advisor can help you to:

  • Navigate the university system;
  • Explain and clarify immigration and institutional policies;
  • Describe the overarching expectations of students; and
  • Facilitate connections with other campus or community supports, resources or services.

Students with an Offer of Admission should monitor their email for additional updates and event invitations from the GPS team.

Connect With GPS

Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs

The University of Guelph is a public university, meaning U of G operates under government regulations and is accountable to the public. You can rest assured we provide a top-ranked, high-quality education experience.

U of G’s Designated Learning Institution Number is O19305391192, which covers our main campus, Ridgetown Campus, and the University of Guelph-Humber. Our campuses are not impacted by the discontinuation of post-graduate work permits (PGWPs).

For more information about PGWP eligibility, please visit the Government of Canada website: Work in Canada after you graduate.

Most new students applying for their study permits require a PAL, unless exempted by IRCC. Exemptions include degree-seeking master's and doctoral students. For a full list of exemption criteria, please visit the Government of Canada website.

If you have been identified as needing a PAL, you will receive more information from U of G once they have received an offer of admission.

If you believe you may qualify for an exemption, please schedule an appointment with our Global Pre-Arrival Support (GPS) advisors as soon as possible to review your circumstances

In certain cases (e.g. degree-seeking master's and doctoral students, exchange students, protected persons) IRCC provides exemptions from the requirement for a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). To find out who is exempt from needing a PAL/TAL, please visit the IRCC website for the most up-to-date information.

In case you are exempt from needing a PAL, you are required to provide an explanation letter to demonstrate how you are qualified for exemption. This letter can be added along with your study permit application.

If you’re unsure about your specific situation, you can also contact a GPS Advisor for further clarification and guidance on your PAL requirement.

We recommend including a screenshot of the current exemption policy on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website under Who doesn’t need a PAL or TAL section to support your explanation.

A study permit issued for one Designated Learning Institution (DLI) cannot be used to enroll at another. Visit Changing your school or Program for more information.

We anticipate that all applicants who accept their offer and complete the above steps will receive a PAL, however, quantities may be limited. You are encouraged to complete the request process as soon as possible.

In the case we are unable to issue you a PAL, or your study permit is denied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you may be eligible for a refund of the international tuition deposit. Additional refund information can be found on the Student Financial Services website.

PALs will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. You are encouraged to complete the process as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

In the case we are unable to issue you a PAL, or your study permit is denied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you may be eligible for a refund of the international tuition deposit. Additional refund information can be found on the Student Financial Services website.

Once you complete all your required steps outlined above, we will process your request as quickly as possible.

PAL requests are typically submitted by U of G to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) for processing daily, during business hours. It typically takes 2-3 business days from the completion of your request and all necessary submissions to receive your PAL. You will be notified by email once we have received your PAL and it is ready to download from WebAdvisor.

Students changing DLIs are required to obtain a new study permit. Visit changing your school or program for more information.

Most new-to-U of G students will require a PAL, unless exempted by IRCC. Exemptions include degree-seeking master's and doctoral students. For a full list of exemption criteria, please visit the Government of Canada website.

Be sure to connect with our Global Pre-Arrival Support (GPS) team if you have any questions.

Undergraduate applicants to the University of Guelph may contact the admission team by emailing intapps@uoguelph.ca.

Graduate applicants to the University of Guelph may contact the admission team by emailing gradapps@uoguelph.ca.

Information for Other Student Groups

This page contains information for future international undergraduate and graduate students at U of G's main campus. All other students should check the following based on their student type:

Visit the Guelph-Humber website for information on the PAL request process.

Students who have been identified as requiring a PAL will be contacted by email with instructions from our Ridgetown Campus.

Students who have been identified as requiring a PAL will be contacted by email with instructions from our English Language Programs department in OpenEd.

Exchange students coming to the University of Guelph (U of G) under an exchange agreement with their home institution, and who do not pay tuition fees to U of G, are exempt from requiring a PAL to apply for a Study Permit.

Visit Global Learning Opportunities (GLO) webpage for more info on coming to the University of Guelph as an exchange student.

The information presented on this page may change from the date of publication. For the most current and accurate information, we strongly recommend referring to the IRCC website or reaching out to the University of Guelph Global Pre-Arrival Support Advisor.

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