International Students

Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) Requirements

As part of the announced cap implementation, as of 8:30 am EST on January 22, 2024, most study permit applications will require a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from the province where they plan to study. A provincial attestation letter (PAL) is a requirement for all Kingswood applicants submitting a study permit application after 8:30 am EST January 22, 2024.

If your study permit application was submitted to IRCC after 8:30 am EST on January 22, 2024, or you have not yet submitted your application, you DO require a provincial attestation letter (PAL). Any study permit application submitted to IRCC after this date without the required letter of attestation will be returned.

Requirements for a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)

In accordance with newly-developed policies communicated by the Province of New Brunswick to all New Brunswick post-secondary institutions, final authority to grant a PAL resides with the Province of New Brunswick. A PAL will be approved and granted by the Province, and then distributed to applicants through Kingswood.

Applicants who do not possess a valid study permit approval or did not submit their application to IRCC before 8:30 am EST on January 22, 2024, will require a PAL.

In order to be eligible for a PAL, a Kingswood applicant must:

1. Have paid tuition deposit in full.
2. Provide your Passport and Consent to Kingswood. The Province of New Brunswick has identified a passport as the unique personal identifier required to confirm your identity and verify if you are eligible to receive a provincial attestation letter (PAL). Kingswood will collect this information and include it in your PAL application.
3. Demonstrate they meet Kingswood’s English Language Requirements by March 31, 2024, by providing a test of English language proficiency as per Kingswood’s requirements.

    

   Important: It is critical to note that an applicant will only be eligible for one PAL from the Province of New Brunswick.

PAL Application Process

There are three parties involved in the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) Process:

1. Applicant: Kingswood applicant who holds a letter of acceptance to Kingswood
2. Kingswood University
3. GNB: Government, or Province of New Brunswick (issuer of PAL)

STEP 1: Applicants must meet the 3 PAL requirements identified below by March 31, 2024:

• Payment of CAD 10,000 tuition deposit
• Provided copy of passport and signed Consent form to enrolment department
• Demonstrate they meet Kingswood’s English Language Requirements

STEP 2: Confirm your current address.

• You can update your address by contacting a member of the enrolment department directly.
• It is critical to ensure your address on file matches the address you will use to apply for your study permit. Kingswood will be sharing information with the Province of New Brunswick, in addition to your passport number, to confirm your identity and verify eligibility for a PAL.
• The address included on your PAL must match the address you will submit in your study permit application to IRCC.

STEP 3: Kingswood’s enrolment department will evaluate all applicants after the March 31 deadline to confirm PAL requirements have been met.

• Kingswood will submit required information to the Province of New Brunswick for all applicants who meet the PAL criteria. This includes passport, address, date of birth, and phone number.
• Kingswood University will not submit applicants who have not met the requirements.

STEP 4: GNB will evaluate all PAL applications submitted by Kingswood to determine if individuals are eligible for a provincial attestation letter (PAL).

• It is anticipated that this will take up to 15 business days for decisions to be available.
• GNB will use your passport number to verify you have not received a PAL from another institution.
• It is critical to note that an applicant will only be eligible for one PAL from the Province of New Brunswick.

STEP 5: GNB will communicate PAL decisions to Kingswood.

• GNB will send the PAL letter to Kingswood for applicants who are eligible.
• GNB will indicate to Kingswood if applicants are not eligible for a PAL letter.

STEP 6: Kingswood will communicate the PAL decision to applicants:

• If applicants are not eligible for a PAL they will be withdrawn from their program, and their seat will be cancelled.
• If applicants are eligible, they will receive an email from Kingswood with instructions for downloading their PAL.

STEP 7: PALs have an expiration date!

• Provincial attestation letters will be valid for an 8-week period before they expire. This means that applicants will have 8 weeks from the date their PAL is issued to apply to IRCC for their study permit, or the PAL will expire and cannot be used for a study permit application.

STEP 8: Be ready to apply for your study permit.

•  Review the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) webpage to ensure you have everything in place to apply for your study permit as soon as you have received confirmation of your PAL application.

STEP 9: Keep us up to date on your study permit application status.

You must keep us updated on the progress of your study permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):

• Submit proof that you have applied for your study permit by sending a copy of the Acknowledgement of Receipt letter from IRCC immediately after submission by emailing enrolment@kingswood.edu.
• When you receive a final decision on your study permit, update us by contacting the enrolment department.

• Study permit applications submitted to IRCC before 8:30 am EST on January 22, 2024, or
• Study permit extensions submitted after January 22, 2024, for applicants already in Canada with a valid study permit.

Please ensure Kingswood has the most up-to-date information regarding your study permit application. If you have not yet notified Kingswood of any developments in your study permit application (submitting an application or receiving a final decision) please do so by emailing enrolment@kingswood.edu with the following important information:

• Full Name
• Submission or decision letter from IRCC attached

All tuition and confirmation deposit deadlines continue to apply to you. Be sure to review the updated information on this page related to non-refundable confirmation deposits and tuition payments.