International Student Program

September 2024 Update

On Wednesday, September 18, 2024 the Federal Government of Canada announced new updates to the International Student Program and the requirements for study permits issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

As of January 2025, all international students entering an undergraduate or graduate program will require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). This applies to students that will be starting in the May or September 2025 intake. If you are starting in the January 2025 intake, please follow the current guidelines.

The Provincial Government has not yet announced any details for universities to request PALs for May and September 2025. We expect to have an update in January. Once we receive this information, we will provide more specifics on how you can obtain a PAL.

If you are planning to complete the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program at Ontario Tech in order to meet your English language proficiency requirement, please contact admissions@ontariotechu.ca for information about requesting a PAL. 

Note as well that beginning February 15, 2024, students graduating from a Master's-level degree program are eligible to receive a 3-year post-graduate work permit (PGWP). Spouses of international students in graduate-level programs may be eligible to receive an open work permit. Ontario Tech University cannot guarantee the approval of any travel documents.

Please note: All of our Master’s and PhD degree programs are Post-graduate work permit (PGWP) eligible. No Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) code required.

We encourage you to visit our International Office's website for more information about the PAL or PGWP. Please contact an international advisor if you require further assistance or advice.