As required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), most students must include a provincial attestation letter (PAL) or territorial attestation letter (TAL) from the province or territory where they plan to study with their study permit application.
For the most up-to-date information, please visit Study permit: Get the right documents.
Questions and Answers
A Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) is a supporting document provided by the province or territory where a student intends to study. Attestation letters will be required for all study permit applications submitted on or after January 22, 2024, unless exempt.
If you’ve entered Canada and you’re applying for a study permit extension at the same Designated Learning Institution (DLI) for the same level of study as your current study permit, you don’t need a PAL.
However, if you are applying for a study permit extension at the same DLI and are changing your level of study, you will need a PAL.
If you need clarification or assistance with your application, please contact your International Student Advisors.
All students who have paid their tuition deposit, as noted on their Letter of Acceptance, are asked to complete our PAL Eligibility Form. This form determines if you need a PAL, which we will request for you if necessary.
Here is how to access the form:
- Visit your International self-service portal.
- Click on "Check status of application' under Helpful Links on the left-hand side of the page or the green Check Application Status box.
- Sign in using your MyDC login. Your username is your DC student number and your default password is your date of birth in the format MMDDYY (6 digits only).
After you submit the form, a summary of your answers will be displayed, and you will receive a confirmation email.
Please submit this form as soon as possible so that we can provide further assistance on your path to beginning your studies at Durham College!
Durham College will collect the information included on your submitted form. Based on the answers provided, we will determine if you will or will not require a PAL. You will receive a confirmation email to summarize your answers.
If it is determined that you require a PAL, Durham College will request one for you. This can take a few days depending on when your form is submitted, so we ask for your patience.
If you require a PAL, once we have received your PAL from the government, it will be uploaded to your International Self-Service Portal and you will receive an email notifying you that it is available. This email will contain further instructions for your next steps to view, save or print your PAL and a link to apply for your Canadian Study Permit through our partner BorderPass.