International Student Study Permits

In light of the recent announcement by the Government of Canada on international student study permits, we have prepared a list of answers to some of the questions we have received from students below. As more information becomes available, we will continue to update this list. U of T’s Authorized Immigration Advisors are on hand to support you, and can be contacted as follows

If you are a graduate student, please refer to the School of Graduate studies for more details.

International Undergraduate Students Admitted to U of T for Fall 2024 – FAQs for Study Permits

The new measures are not intended to impact the number of students allowed at the University of Toronto and other universities in Canada but implementation details remain to be decided.

If you are applying for your study permit outside of Canada, you will now need to submit a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from the provincial government of Ontario, unless exempted, along with your study permit application to the Government of Canada. Current valid study permit holders will not be affected.

There are no changes to work conditions for students, and you might be eligible to work while you are pursuing your studies if you continue to meet the requirements.

Spouses of undergraduate students will no longer automatically qualify for open work permits but may be able to arrive as visitors or apply for alternative Work Permit pathways, if qualified.

Should you have any questions or require assistance, please contact our International Student Immigration Advising Teams (see below under “Who can I go to for assistance at U of T with my study permit?”).

Most incoming international undergraduate students applying for a study permit outside of Canada will need to provide a PAL. The full list of exemptions is here.

U of T’s Centre for International Experience has developed a tool to assist you in determining whether an exemption applies to you. The tool can be found here.

Admitted international students will receive more information about acquiring an attestation letter by email—or they can find details on the Join U of T Applicant Portal.

Should you have questions please contact our International Student Immigration Advising Teams (see below under “Who can I go to for assistance at U of T with my study permit?”)

To receive an attestation letter (PAL), you will need to do three things:

  1. accept your offer;
  2. pay the admission deposit; and
  3. submit the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) Confirmation Form.

You will be able to access the PAL Confirmation Form through the Offer Page on the Join U of T Applicant Portal after you have accepted an offer and paid the admission deposit.

After completing all three steps, the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) will issue the PAL to the University. You will receive an email notification when your PAL is available. You can then download it through your Offer Page on the Join U of T Applicant Portal.

The Government of Canada has advised that study permit applications submitted without attestation letters will be returned. For this reason, we advise students to wait to submit their study permit applications until they have received their PAL. However, you can begin to prepare your study permit application now. U of T’s International Student Immigration Advisors on each campus are available to assist you in preparing your best application.

The new measures are not intended to impact the University of Toronto and other universities in Canada.

Yes, you are able to bring your dependants with you. U of T’s International Student Immigration Advisors are on hand to support you.

Currently Enrolled Undergraduate U of T International Students

No. You will be able to complete your education at U of T if you have a current study permit.  Renewals inside Canada will not be impacted by this cap. 

Last updated on March 28, 2024.