I am an undergraduate student who is transferring to SFU from another Canadian designated learning institution (DLI).  Do I need a provincial attestation letter (PAL)?

Starting November 8, 2024, you must be enrolled at the DLI named on your study permit.  As such, if you will be transferring to SFU from another designated learning institution (DLI) you are required to apply for a SFU study permit with SFU's Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), if applicable.

The process of applying for a SFU study permit differs between in-Canada and outside Canada applications.  Review our News and Updates page for more information. 

If you will be transferring to SFU from another DLI, you will require a provincial attestation letter (PAL) in your study permit application.  

Inside Canada

If you have a valid study permit, you can apply for a SFU study permit by following the same application process as in-Canada study permit extension.  To do so, you must submit your application to IRCC before your study permit expires:

• Starting January 22, 2025, at 12:00 A.M. EST, if you apply for a SFU study permit, you will require a PAL. A new PAL will be issued to you from SFU.
• If your study permit application was submitted by January 21, 2025 11:59 pm EST you do not require a PAL.

Outside Canada

If you are applying for a SFU study permit from outside Canada, this is considered a new study permit application as opposed to a study permit extension.  If applying from outside Canada, you are required to include a valid PAL in your study permit application.

For inside Canada and outside Canada study permit applications, you must also include your SFU letter of acceptance (LOA).

Study permit application resources

• For information about extending your study permit from inside Canada, visit our webpage. 
  • Review our In-Canada study permit extension guides (under the heading "Visas and Study Permits").      
• For information about applying for a study permit from outside Canada, visit our webpage. 

This page was last updated on February 7, 2025.