POSTPONE YOUR ARRIVAL
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced changes to the International Student Program starting January 1, 2026, including new rules for Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs).
Graduate students (Master’s or PhD) at public institutions will be exempt from the PAL requirement starting January 1, 2026. In addition, PhD students and their accompanying family members may also qualify for expedited processing, if they apply within the same application. Please note that applications may still be subject to background checks, which could affect processing times.
For full details on PAL requirements and other updates, please review our 2026 PAL Requirement News Post.
If your study permit application is delayed, you may consider arriving late or applying to defer your admission.
Undergraduates
If you are new to Canada, we do not recommend missing more than the first week of classes as it is very difficult to catch up. Contact your professors or an academic advisor for advice.
If you need to apply to defer your admission, please see the deferral information on the Admissions website. You should also refer to the deadlines information online to see course drop dates, tuition and enrollment deadlines.
Graduates
Please contact your Supervisor or Graduate Secretary for assistance. You should also refer to the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Fellows office website for information regarding procedures and important deadlines. Note that financial penalties will apply if you fail to drop your courses within the first 13 days of the term.
Exchange Students
Please contact exchange@sfu.ca.