Immigration Documents
On January 24, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced updates regarding who is required to include a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) in their study permit application. SFU Exchange students who are are studying under an exchange arrangement between their home institution and SFU, and who do not pay tuition fees to SFU, are now exempt from the PAL requirement. Exchange students who apply for a study permit are required to provide proof of the PAL exemption they fall under in their application to IRCC. If you have any questions, contact a SFU International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist.
Select the category below, which corresponds to the number of terms you will be studying at SFU, for more information about what you will need to study in Canada.
US Students: 1 term exchange
If you will be studying at SFU for 1 term (less than 6 months), you can travel to Canada as a visitor and study without a study permit. Alternatively, you may apply for a study permit, if you wish to do so. Please see the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for more information.
Travelling to Canada as a visitor to study without a study permit
If you are a citizen of the United States, or you have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence and hold valid status in the U.S., you do not require a temporary resident visa (TRV) or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. Visit the IRCC website for more information.
Visit the IRCC website for more information about entry requirements for Canada, including the documents you should carry when travelling to Canada to demonstrate your identity and immigration status in the U.S.
Visit the SFU website for more information about what to expect at the Canadian border and what documents to carry when travelling to Canada.
Applying for a study permit
See below under "US Students: 2 & 3 term exchange" for information about how to apply for a study permit.
US Students: 2 & 3 term exchange
You can apply for a study permit online via the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. Visit the SFU website for more information about how to submit a study permit application online.
You also have the option of submitting your study permit application upon your arrival at a Canadian Port of Entry (e.g. your airport of arrival or land crossing into Canada) if you are:
- a national or permanent resident of the United States (US)
- someone who has lawfully been admitted to the US for permanent residence
- a resident of Greenland or St. Pierre and Miquelon
Please review the information below carefully if you will be applying for a study permit at the port of entry:
Starting on January 22, 2025, students applying for study permits are now required to submit a provincial attestation letter (PAL), from the province where they intend to study, unless exempted*. If a PAL is required for a study permit application, you also need to carry it even if the study permit application is processed at a port of entry. Please visit our FAQ page for more information on how to get a PAL from SFU.
*Exchange students (students who are studying under an exchange arrangement between SFU and their home institution, and who pay tuition to their home institution), and students applying for study permits in the preschool, primary, and secondary levels are a few of those who are exempted from this requirement.
For more information about who is exempt from the PAL, and who needs a PAL, review the links below:
If you determine that you are PAL exempt, you will need to provide proof of the PAL exemption you fall under in your study permit application. Ensure you upload the document(s) under the "Proof of Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) Exception" section in your IRCC secure account. If you have any questions about this, contact a SFU International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist.
It is important that you carefully consider your options and whether to apply for a study permit at the port of entry or online. If you are planning to apply for a study permit at the port of entry, we advise speaking with an SFU International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist prior to doing so.
Application at the port of entry
Fill out the IRCC application form in advance and prepare the required documentation to present upon arrival. You will need proof of citizenship, a secondary piece of official identification, your official letter of acceptance (also known as an admission letter or admission offer) from SFU, the application fee and proof of sufficient funds. Visit the IRCC website for more information about making a study permit application upon entering Canada.
If you are not a US citizen, in most cases you will be required to give your biometrics upon arrival at the port of entry to Canada when making your study permit application. Visit the IRCC website to find out if you will need to give your biometrics.