Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has amended its guidance so that, effective immediately, most international students enrolled in joint academic programs or pursuing master’s and PhD studies will need only one provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) when applying for a study permit. The change, published February 8, targets a long-criticised administrative bottleneck created when Canada introduced attestation letters in January to cap overall study-permit numbers.
Previously, students completing coursework across multiple designated learning institutions—or straddling provincial borders—had to secure separate attestations for each component of their program. Universities warned that the rule discouraged collaborative degrees and delayed visa issuance for research students vital to Canada’s innovation pipeline. Under the new policy a single PAL, issued by the province in which the primary institution is located, will suffice.
The revision comes amid a 60 percent year-on-year drop in new study-permit approvals following the federal cap and higher cost-of-living thresholds. Industry groups say simplifying joint-program requirements could help stem declines in STEM and health-science enrolments that feed directly into post-graduation work-permit (PGWP) streams.
![IRCC Streamlines Study-Permit Attestations for Joint and Graduate Programs]()
For applicants uncertain about the new attestation-letter rules, visa-processing specialists such as VisaHQ can guide you through the documentation and submission steps, check your forms for accuracy, and monitor status updates with IRCC. Their Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) consolidates the latest PAL guidance and lets students or employers order end-to-end study-permit support in minutes.
For education providers, the update reduces paperwork and should speed up admissions for fall 2026 intakes. Recruitment agents must update checklists immediately to avoid duplicate attestation requests. Students who filed applications before January 1 will continue to be assessed under the old rules, so universities are encouraging eligible applicants to withdraw and resubmit to benefit from the streamlined process.
Corporate sponsors employing graduate researchers and co-op students should also see shorter lead times, but are advised to verify that the single PAL references all partner campuses to prevent border delays. IRCC says further tweaks are coming as it reviews the first six weeks of the attestation-letter regime.
Previously, students completing coursework across multiple designated learning institutions—or straddling provincial borders—had to secure separate attestations for each component of their program. Universities warned that the rule discouraged collaborative degrees and delayed visa issuance for research students vital to Canada’s innovation pipeline. Under the new policy a single PAL, issued by the province in which the primary institution is located, will suffice.
The revision comes amid a 60 percent year-on-year drop in new study-permit approvals following the federal cap and higher cost-of-living thresholds. Industry groups say simplifying joint-program requirements could help stem declines in STEM and health-science enrolments that feed directly into post-graduation work-permit (PGWP) streams.
For applicants uncertain about the new attestation-letter rules, visa-processing specialists such as VisaHQ can guide you through the documentation and submission steps, check your forms for accuracy, and monitor status updates with IRCC. Their Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) consolidates the latest PAL guidance and lets students or employers order end-to-end study-permit support in minutes.
For education providers, the update reduces paperwork and should speed up admissions for fall 2026 intakes. Recruitment agents must update checklists immediately to avoid duplicate attestation requests. Students who filed applications before January 1 will continue to be assessed under the old rules, so universities are encouraging eligible applicants to withdraw and resubmit to benefit from the streamlined process.
Corporate sponsors employing graduate researchers and co-op students should also see shorter lead times, but are advised to verify that the single PAL references all partner campuses to prevent border delays. IRCC says further tweaks are coming as it reviews the first six weeks of the attestation-letter regime.
