Study Permit Application Information

Applying for a study permit is an important step in your journey to study in Canada and this page is designed to support you through the process.

Here you will find:

Guidance on how to apply for a study permit
Answers to frequently asked questions
Explanation of any updates from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Tips for travel, re-entry, and maintaining your status in Canada

We recommend starting to prepare your application as soon as you receive your letter of acceptance. Taking the time to prepare a complete and well-documented application, while also applying promptly, can help you avoid delays due to processing times.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) information may change without notice and it is your responsibility to refer to IRCC for the most up to date information and to be sure you meet the eligibility criteria. We will continue to update this page as new information becomes available. 

What's New?

Need help with your study permit application?

This service is free for incoming York students applying for their initial study permit, including students reapplying after a previous refusal.

Create a BorderPass account to get started today.

Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) Requirements

Under the reformed International Student Program, most international students seeking to study at the post-secondary level will require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) to apply for a study permit. There are limited exceptions. Please refer to the IRCC website for a full list of applicants who meet PAL exemptions.

You don’t need a PAL or TAL when applying for a study permit if:

You’re starting a master’s or doctoral degree program at York University (effective Jan 1, 2026).

You’re an exchange student under an official agreement and don’t pay tuition to York.

You’ve received a Global Affairs Canada scholarship.

You’re in Canada and:
- Applying for a study permit extension at York at the same level.
- Have a temporary resident permit (6+ months).
- Are a protected person or eligible for permanent residence (humanitarian grounds, public policy, or as a spouse/common-law partner).

Check if you need a PAL

Newly admitted students (including transfer students from another designated learning institution)

Newly admitted international students applying from outside of Canada require a PAL to apply for a study permit.

Undergraduate students: Most undergraduate students will need to pay a $2000.00 non-refundable acceptance deposit to obtain a PAL, Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and to gain access to course enrolment. This payment will be applied to your tuition fee – it is not an additional fee. Your PAL and LOA are available in MyFile shortly after your $2000.00 acceptance deposit is received. This process is automated, and there is no need to contact York University regarding PAL or LOA issuance.
Note: *Note: Under the regulations of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, you are eligible for our domestic tuition rate if you are: a person who is officially recognized and documented by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to be a Protected Person or a Convention Refugee.
If you are a Protected Person or a Convention Refugee, the domestic registration deposit fee of $300 is required after you begin enrolling in courses.

Graduate students: Graduate students coming to York University for a Master's or PhD degree are PAL exempt when applying for a study permit.
School of Continuing Studies: Please contact The School of Continuing Studies for instructions on how to obtain the PAL.

Current students

Current international students in Canada who are applying to extend their study permit to attend the same institution, at the same level of study do not need a PAL. Instead, you will need to provide an explanation letter confirming that you are PAL exempt. This letter is not issued by the university and can be written by you. Please review York International’s study permit extension resource guide for a template explanation letter.

Use the PAL Requirement Checker to find out if you need one.

Please visit the IRCC website for a full list of PAL exemptions. You need to provide proof that you meet one of the above exceptions if you don’t provide a PAL/TAL with your study permit application. Please review York International’s study permit extension resource guide for a proof of PAL exemption letter template.

For full information on PALs, visit IRCC's website.

Yes, students moving from high school to post-secondary or between post-secondary institutions, are required to apply for a new study permit and submit a PAL with their application.

Please refer to York International's Guide for International High School Students Transferring to York.

Admitted Undergraduate International Students:

To obtain a PAL, admitted undergraduate international students must:

Accept their offer of admission to York
Pay the non-refundable* acceptance deposit of $2000 CAD**
Download the Attestation Letter on MyFile.

Your PAL will not be immediately available after you pay your acceptance deposit. Processing times will vary depending on the volume of letters we are processing. Please check your MyFile for updates.

You cannot pay your acceptance deposit using any scholarships or awards you receive from York as these will be applied to your student account in September.

Visit the Admitted Students website for additional instructions on how to pay your acceptance deposit.

If your Study Permit application is refused, you can receive a full refund of your acceptance deposit. Please contact the Student Support & Advising Team at contactssa@yorku.ca.

Once you have paid your acceptance deposit, processing times will vary depending on the volume of letters we are processing. We recommend you accept your offer and pay your deposit as soon as you can.

PALs issued between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026 are valid until the end of the year 2026. Your PAL/TAL needs to be valid when you apply for your study permit. It does not need to be valid when you start your studies.

If you have used your PAL and received a study permit refusal, a new PAL is required to re-apply.

To get your Provincial Attestation Letter, please follow the steps below. If you currently already have a valid study permit and will be starting a new program, you will not need a PAL to extend your current permit.

Steps to get a PAL for School of Continuing Studies students:

Accept your offer to the School of Continuing Studies.
Pay your deposit to secure your spot in the program. Paying your deposit allows you to be registered and will ensure that you are issued a PAL, if eligible.
The PAL will become available in MyFile within 3-5 business days following the successful receipt of your deposit.

Please be advised that a student number and date of birth are required to log into MyFile. Once logged into MyFile, please navigate to the “Admissions Documents” link on the lefthand sidebar. If a PAL is available, there will be a link listed there for download. If there is no link to the Provincial Attestation Letter within the “Admissions Documents” tab, then the letter has not yet been processed by the Ministry and is not yet available — please check back within 24-72 hours.

Please email regscs@yorku.ca if requesting for PAL re-issuance due to visa denial and/or for any additional questions.

Are You Changing Schools or Study Levels in Canada?

Transferring from another post-secondary institution to York? You must have an approved study permit before starting your studies. IRCC is currently prioritizing study permit applications for students transferring between post-secondary Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs).

Moving from a Canadian high school to post-secondary studies? You may begin your studies while your study permit extension is in process, provided you applied before your current permit expired.

Advancing to a new level of study at the same institution? You may start your new program while waiting for your study permit application to be processed.

Visit IRCC page for more information.

Study Permit Application - General Information

Apply online using the IRCC's Online Application. Make sure to check current processing times and submit your application as soon as possible.

York University has partnered with BorderPass, an immigration support service that combines user-friendly technology with guidance from immigration lawyers to help you prepare and submit a strong study permit application. This service is free for incoming York students applying for their initial study permit, including students reapplying after a previous refusal.

Create a BorderPass account to get started today.

If your application is approved, the Canadian visa office serving the country where you submitted your application will issue you an approval letter, known as a Port of Entry Letter (POE Letter) of a Letter of Introduction, and an entry visa or an eTA (if applicable). Do not book travel to Canada until you’ve received your Letter of Introduction. Present the letter to the border officer when you enter Canada to get the hard copy of your study permit. 

If you require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV, also known as an entry or visitor visa), you will be asked to submit your passport so that the visa officer can affix the visa into it. You do not need to make a separate application. 

If you require an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), you don’t have to submit your passport. An eTA will be issued electronically and associated with your passport number. Your eTA number and expiry date will be included in the Letter of Introduction. 

Find more information about entering Canada or check out our Arriving at the Canadian Border Pre-Arrival Webinar

If you decide to change schools after your study permit for York University has been approved, but before you travel to Canada, you must re-apply for a new study permit.

If you change schools after arriving in Canada, you will need to apply for a new study permit and receive an approval before you can begin your studies at the new school. You will need a new PAL for this application.

Please visit the IRCC page for details on changing schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Study Permit Application Questions

Incoming York University students can apply for their initial study permit free-of-charge using BorderPass, an immigration support service that combines user-friendly technology with guidance from immigration lawyers to help you prepare and submit a strong study permit application. Create a BorderPass account to get started today.

Make sure to pay your acceptance deposit as soon as possible to receive your Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), if applicable.

You can apply for your study permit, even if your offer of acceptance is conditional. In your application, include a clear explanation of how you plan to meet the conditions of your admission, when you expect to fulfill these conditions, i.e., the date you will submit your official transcript or proof of language proficiency to York University, and what documents you will provide to meet these requirements.

York University does not issue unconditional offers, and your original letter of acceptance will not be re-issued after the conditions are cleared.

Estimated processing times give an idea of how long an application could take to be processed. Please be sure to apply well in advance of your program start date, monitor the status of your application closely, and respond to any request for additional information from IRCC in time, to avoid processing delays. If your application has not been processed beyond the normal processing times, you can use IRCC Application Tracker to review the status of your application or contact IRCC through web form .

York University is in communication with IRCC on issues affecting international students at an institutional level, but we cannot intervene to speed up study permit/visa applications for individual students. 

Apply for your study permit as soon as you have the letter of acceptance, the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), and all other required documents ready. You should apply well in advance of your program start date to avoid processing delays but also be sure that your application is thorough and complete to minimize the risk of refusal.

Generally, you must apply for a study permit before you come to Canada. Only citizens and permanent residents of the United States and residents of Greenland or St. Pierre et Miquelon can apply when entering Canada. 

You can check the estimated study permit application processing time for applications submitted from outside of Canada. 

If you applied through the in-Canada application process, and your previous study permit was still valid at the time of your application, you can remain in Canada under maintained status.

Students transitioning from high school to post-secondary education in Canada may begin their post-secondary studies while their study permit extension is still in process, if they have a valid study permit or are on maintained status.

Students transferring from another DLI to York must wait for their new study permit to be approved to begin studies. IRCC is prioritizing applications for students transferring between post-secondary DLIs and has committed to finalizing all outstanding applications in this category at the earliest possibility.

If you are in Canada, you can contact IRCC  through their in-Canada call centre (1-888-242-2100) or through their web form.

If you are outside Canada, you can contact IRCC through their web form.

Each section will only allow one file to be uploaded. You will need to use software to merge the documents into a single file that is an acceptable format (ie. PDF) and fits within the file size limits.

IRCC provides instructions in their Help Centre.

IRCC has confirmed that the mailing address on your PAL can be different than the address you are using on your study permit application. You do not need a new PAL if the addresses don't match. As each Designated Learning Institution only has a limited number of PALs, York will not issue more than one PAL per student.

An exception may be made for students who receive a study permit refusal.

Study Permit Refusals

If you submitted a PAL with your first application and your study permit was refused, you will need a new PAL to re-apply.

Please follow the steps below to request a new PAL and to receive additional application support:

Fill out the study permit refusal advising request form.
If you do not receive a response after 5 business days, plIf you intend to re-apply, a new Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) may be required*. Please follow the steps below to request a new PAL and to receive additional application support:
[NOTE: Graduate (Master's and PhD) students coming to York University and applying for study permit will no longer require a PAL, effective January 1, 2026.]
- STEP ONE: Fill out the study permit refusal advising request form.
- STEP TWO: Sign up for a BorderPass Account. York University has recently partnered with BorderPass, an immigration support service that helps make the study permit application process easier. It combines easy-to-use technology with guidance from immigration lawyers to help you submit a strong application and improve your chances of success. Best of all, this service is free for incoming York students applying for their initial study permit - even if you are repplying after a previous refusal.When you sign up for your account, you will see the welcome message below, followed by a list of options to get started. In your case you will select "Apply for a Study Permit", as you are re-applying.
  As you move through the platform, you'll be asked to provide information and documentation that will generate the information needed to fill in the IRCC application forms and complete your application.
  Regarding your PAL: Once you have completed Steps 1 and 2, and we will submit your request for a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). If you choose not to register for BorderPass, you will still receive your PAL; however, we would appreciate learning more about your decision.
- STEP THREE: Sign up and attend the webinar Navigating Study Permit Application Refusals for International Students - This group Q&A session is designed to support you. An International Student Advisor and licensed immigration specialist will be available to answer your questions and provide guidance on possible next steps. Please use this link to view and Register for an upcoming session.
Questions? You can connect with one of our International Student Advisors by attending a virtual drop-in advising session or by email at iadvisor@yorku.ca. Find schedule and zoom links of virtual drop-in advising sessions by searching “international student advising” on Events Calendar.
If you do not intend to re-apply, contact the Student Support Advising team at contactssa@yorku.ca and provide a copy of your refusal letter. They will assist you with the refund of your enrolment deposit.

This service is free for incoming York students applying for their initial study permit, including students reapplying after a previous refusal.

Create a BorderPass account to get tailored support today.

To proceed with withdrawing your offer and requesting a refund of your acceptance deposit, here are the steps you should follow

1. Withdraw Your Offer

Please notify the admissions office or the appropriate program contact in writing that you will not be attending. If you’ve already enrolled in courses, be sure to drop them through the Registration and Enrolment Module (REM) as soon as possible. Not attending classes or failing to show up does not mean you are automatically withdrawn from your courses. To be eligible for a 100% tuition refund for the Fall 2026 term, you must drop your courses by September 10, 2026.

2. Cancel Housing Reservation:

If you have reserved housing and will not be arriving, you must notify Housing & Conference Services. Any incoming resident who does not check into their room by the first day of classes and has not notified Housing & Conference Services of their late arrival will lose their room reservation and will incur a no-show fee of $500 to their student account.

3. Request a Refund

You can submit a refund request through the Student Financial Services – Refunds page. If you need any assistance, the best person to contact is the Student Support & Advising at contactssa@yorku.ca.
If your study permit was refused, you may be eligible for a full refund of your acceptance deposit. You’ll need to upload a copy of the refusal letter.
If you are withdrawing for personal reasons, refund eligibility will depend on the timing and the refund schedule. The acceptance deposit is generally non-refundable unless exceptional circumstances apply.

New Undergrad Student Deposit Questions

If your study permit application is refused, York will return your acceptance deposit to you. You'll be asked to provide a copy of your refusal letter to York before your deposit is returned. For assistance with refund, please contact Student Support & Advising

Scholarships are applied to a student’s account in September when they begin their studies. The acceptance deposit is required shortly after you accept your offer. As a result, the scholarship cannot be used to pay your acceptance deposit.

All admitted undergraduate international students must pay the non-refundable $2000 CAD acceptance deposit. We cannot issue a PAL without this deposit.

Most new students will need a PAL. Even if you do not require a PAL, you will still be required to pay the acceptance deposit so you can enrol in courses. Please ensure to pay your acceptance deposit as soon as you receive your offer of admission.

Some international students are eligible to pay domestic fees. This includes those who have a work permit or who are dependents of a work permit holder. You can check the Academic Tuition Fees webpage for eligibility and to apply.

Only students who have already been approved to pay domestic fees are able to pay the $300 deposit. If you still need a PAL, please contact the International Student Advisors at iadvisor@yorku.ca.

If you have applied for a tuition category change but not yet heard back from York, please pay the $2000 deposit. This amount will be applied to your tuition fee.

Current International Student Questions

If you need to extend your study permit, check to see if York is listed as your Designated Learning Institution on your current study permit.

If York is listed on your study permit and you will not be changing study levels, i.e. you're in undergraduate studies and remaining in undergraduate studies, you do not need a PAL.

If York is not listed on your study permit and/or you will be changing study levels, i.e. going from undergraduate to a Master's degree, you will be required to submit a PAL with your extension application.

Current international students may need a new study permit for a variety of reasons, and a PAL is generally required when applying from outside Canada. Please contact the International Student Advisors at iadvisor@yorku.ca if you are unsure. We also recommend you speak with an academic advisor about your course selections or if you have deferred exams or grades.

Returning after 12+ months?

If you have been away from your program for 12 months or longer, you must complete the reactivation process before you can return to your studies.

For information on eligibility, requirements, and application deadlines, please visit the Registrar's Office website and submit a reactivation request before planning your return.

Incoming Exchange & Visiting Student Questions

Students on exchange to York University do NOT require a PAL.

For any additional questions, please contact exchange@yorku.ca

Incoming exchange students to York University are NOT required to pay the acceptance deposit. Students should proceed to accept their offer, and disregard the prompt to pay a deposit.

Students on exchange to York University for one semester (less than 6 months) typically do not require a study permit. Please refer to the following Government of Canada website and refer to section “Short-term courses [R188(1)(c)]”.

Students who will be studying for two semesters (more than 6 months) at York University will require a study permit. Once you receive the admission letter, please proceed to apply for the study permit to Canada.

Whether you’re coming to York for one semester or two, you may still need an entry visa or eTA. Visit the York International Entry Visa webpage for more information.

Global Affairs Canada Scholarship recipients are admitted to York University as either exchange students or international visiting research trainees (IVRT). Students coming to York on exchange will not require a PAL.

Students coming under the IVRT program will need to co mplete the application process and further information will be provided by the immigration team about visas/permits required to enter Canada. Further questions about the Global Affairs Canada Scholarship can be directed Ashley Laracy, Associate Director, Global Learning at alaracy@yorku.ca.

Additional Support

More information can be found on Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Study Permits website, and the official news release.

Rest assured that York will email you important information and updates as soon as they are available, to guide you through this process. Please check this FAQs page often for any additional updates.

Check out our Immigration Application Resources page as a first step. If your questions are not answered there, join a virtual drop-in advising to speak with an International Student Advisor. Find schedule here.