Provincial Attestation Letters | International Students
Supporting Your Journey to the University of Guelph
On January 22, 2024, the Government of Canada announced changes to study permit application requirements for new international students applying for undergraduate degrees and English language pathway programs.
The University of Guelph has created a process for students to receive a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). Instructions and frequently asked questions can be found below for future international undergraduate students on U of G's main campus. Other student types can find information based on their student group.
Students working with a third-party agent or representative are responsible for connecting with them to ensure all PAL communications have been received.
How to Get Your Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
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 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.
Step 3: Verify your address
The address provided for your PAL should be where you currently live. It is important that you also use this address on your study permit application.
IMPORTANT: Your address will be sent to you by email for confirmation once you have accepted your offer of admission. Do not proceed with the next steps until this has been verified.
Step 4: Send your $1,000 CAD International Tuition Deposit
This deposit affirms your commitment to U of G and will be applied to your fall 2024 tuition fees. It 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 of payment as a PDF to provide to U of G (see step 5).
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.
- Visit the ‘My Documents’ page on WebAdvisor.
- Upload the following two required documents:
- A scanned copy of your passport (called "Passport Verification - PAL")
- Confirmation of deposit being sent from step 4 (called "Deposit Verification - PAL")
- Once the documents have been uploaded, the status on WebAdvisor will show as ‘received’
If you have any issues with document uploads, please email intapps@uoguelph.ca.
Step 6: Wait for next steps
Once your documents are received, U of G will begin the process to 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, you will have all of the required documents from U of G to complete your study permit application.
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. Learn more and book an appointment on the Student Experience website.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs for prospective students
Yes! We continue to process applications and issue offers for fall 2024. We are confident that we will be able to provide PALs for all students who accept their offer.
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 for public-private partnerships.
Your PAL requirement will depend on a variety of factors, including if you have an existing study permit or if you are a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident.
Review the Government of Canada website to ensure you are required to submit a PAL with your study permit application. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all of the required documents when applying for a study permit.
We continue to offer international entrance scholarships alongside additional scholarships for international applicants.
Visit our Funding Your Education page for additional information about ways to earn money through co-op and part-time employment.
We are confident that all applicants who accept their offer of admission and complete the steps above will receive a PAL, as required.
In the unlikely case we are unable to issue you a PAL, you will be eligible to receive a full refund on the tuition deposit. More information can be found on the international tuition deposit page.
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.
If you are unable to begin your studies in the fall, you can apply to defer your offer of admission for one year.
Deferrals are usually considered for fall entry only, but some programs offer winter entry. We also offer a refund policy for tuition and fees.
Questions may be sent to internat@uoguelph.ca.
FAQs for U of G applicants
Yes! We continue to receive, process and review applications. Admission decisions are being made on an ongoing basis.
Applications from students enrolled in high school outside of Canada are processed on a rolling basis. If you are awaiting a response, we encourage you to check your Admission Portal for any outstanding required documents to be submitted.
If you are currently enrolled in high school within Canada, you can expect to receive admission decisions for all programs to which you applied by no later than May 29th.
Transfer applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis as applications are complete (e.g. all required documents are received). To help expedite an admission decision, please ensure all required documents are submitted as soon as possible.
The recent announcement will not impact our admission processing times.
Undergraduate applicants to the University of Guelph may contact the admission team by emailing intapps@uoguelph.ca.
FAQs for students with an offer of admission
Once you’ve received a PAL, you will have all of the required documents from U of G to complete your study permit application.
Verify that you require this document and connect with our Global Pre-Arrival Support (GPS) team if you have any questions.
The Government of Canada website provides a list of criteria for those students who do not require a PAL. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all of the required documents when applying for a study permit.
Be sure to connect with our Global Pre-Arrival Support (GPS) team if you have any questions.
As you are applying to U of G from within Canada, you may be exempt from obtaining a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). Please check the Government of Canada website to ensure you meet the PAL exemption.
As of today, according to IRCC, students who are inside Canada with a valid study permit may begin their studies at the University of Guelph without getting a new one. You need to update your online account when you change schools.
However, if the study permit does not cover the entire duration of your studies at the University of Guelph, you should apply for an extension. To find more information on applying for a study permit extension visit the Government of Canada website.
Be sure to connect with our Global Pre-Arrival Support (GPS) team if you have any questions.
If you submitted your completed study permit application before January 22, 2024, you were not required to include a PAL.
Follow the steps above to request a PAL from U of G.
Yes, you must pay a $1,000 international tuition deposit to receive a PAL. This deposit affirms your commitment to U of G and will be applied to your fall 2024 tuition fees. It is not an additional fee.
More information can be found on our international deposit page.
WebAdvisor is accessed using your University of Guelph email address. Your login credentials and instructions to activate your account will be sent by email shortly after accepting your offer.
If you are unable to locate your central login please email intapps@uoguelph.ca. It may take several days after you have accepted your offer for the account to be generated.
Once U of G has received a copy of your passport and proof of your deposit being paid, we will move as quickly as possible to issue your PAL.
PAL requests are submitted by U of G to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) for processing during business hours. You will be notified by email once we have received your PAL and it is ready to download from WebAdvisor.
We are confident that all applicants who accept their offer, complete the steps above, and require a PAL will get one, however, quantities are limited.
In the unlikely case we are unable to issue you a PAL, you will be eligible to receive a full refund on the tuition deposit. More information can be found on the international tuition deposit page.
You are encouraged to complete the process as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. We will keep you updated if circumstances change.
Undergraduate applicants to the University of Guelph may contact the admission team by emailing intapps@uoguelph.ca.
Information by Student Group
This page contains information for future international undergraduate students on 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 to require a PAL will be contacted by email with instructions from our Ridgetown Campus.
Students who have been identified to require a PAL will be contacted by email with instructions from our English Language Programs department in OpenEd.
Exchange students attending U of G in 2024 and 2025 will be limited to a one-semester stay. As a result, students will not require a PAL or study permit as their program length will be under 6 months.
Visit the Centre for International Programs (CIP) website for more information.
The announcement does not apply to graduate student study permits, with limited exceptions for graduate diploma students.
Students who have been identified to require a PAL will be contacted by email with instructions from the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. If you have questions, connect with gradapps@uoguelph.ca.
For all other international student groups, please visit the university update for additional resources and contacts.