Provincial Attestation Letters
Supporting Your Journey to the University of Guelph
Updated: April 25, 2025
Beginning January 22, 2025, all international students are required to submit a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) as part of the study permit application process. To request a PAL from the University of Guelph, you must first accept your offer of admission and follow the steps outlined below.
If you have not yet applied to the University of Guelph, please visit one of the three links immediately below for more information based on your student group:
- International Undergraduate Admission
- International Undergraduate Transfer Admission
- International Graduate Admission
Students working with a third-party agent or representative are responsible for connecting with them to ensure all PAL communications have been received.
How to Get Your Provincial Attestation Letter
Select your student type below for instructions.
Step 1: Accept your offer to U of G
You must apply to the University of Guelph and accept your offer before beginning the PAL process.
Step 2: Verify that you require a PAL
Review the Government of Canada website to ensure you are required to submit a PAL with your study permit application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure you have all of the required documents when applying for a study permit.
If you believe you may qualify for an exemption, please schedule an appointment with our Global Pre-Arrival Support (GPS) advisor as soon as possible to review your circumstances.
Step 3: Pay your $2,000 CAD International Tuition Deposit
This deposit will be applied to your student account and is not an additional fee. Instructions to pay your deposit, deadlines, and refund policies can be found on the international tuition deposit page.
Once you have paid your deposit, you must save proof that the deposit was sent as a PDF to provide to U of G (see step 4).
Step 4: Upload documents to WebAdvisor
WebAdvisor is your tool for course selection, finances, and more. You will become more familiar with this as you prepare to join us this fall. Login information was/will be emailed to you shortly after accepting your offer of admission.
- Visit the ‘My Documents’ page on WebAdvisor.
- Upload a scanned copy of your passport to the item "Passport Verification - PAL"
- Upload your proof of deposit payment to the item "Deposit Verification - PAL"
- Once the documents have been uploaded, the status on WebAdvisor will show as ‘received’
If you have any issues with document uploads, please email intapps@uoguelph.ca.
Step 5: Wait for next steps
Once your documents are received, U of G will issue a PAL. You will be notified by email once it’s ready for you to download from WebAdvisor.
Step 6: Apply for your study permit
Once you have received your PAL, follow the instructions on the IRCC website to complete your study permit application.
Step 1: Accept your offer to U of G
You must apply to the University of Guelph and accept your offer based on the instructions in your offer letter before beginning the PAL process.
Step 2: Verify that you require a PAL
Review the Government of Canada website to ensure you are required to submit a PAL with your study permit application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure you have all of the required documents when applying for a study permit.
If you believe you may qualify for an exemption, please schedule an appointment with our Global Pre-Arrival Support (GPS) advisor as soon as possible to review your circumstances.
Step 3: Pay your $2,000 CAD International Tuition Deposit
All new international students (excluding Doctoral students) attending the University of Guelph for the first time must pay a $2,000 deposit. This deposit will be applied to your student account and is not an additional fee. Deposits can be paid using a variety of methods, including internet banking and PayMyTuition. A complete list with detailed instructions can be found on the Student Financial Services website.
Once you have paid your deposit, you must save proof that the deposit was sent as a PDF to provide to U of G (see step 4).
International applicants at the University of Guelph whose study permit is denied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may be eligible for a refund of their international tuition deposit:
- Applicants must request a refund, drop any registered courses and forward a copy (PDF) of their IRCC denial letter to Student Financial Services via accquest@uoguelph.ca.
- This request must be received within fourteen days of the denial letter date, otherwise, a refund will be denied. Please allow a minimum of three weeks for the refund to be processed.
Additional refund information can be found on the Student Financial Services website.
Please note: the University of Guelph will not be responsible for losses due to bank fees or currency fluctuations.
Step 4: Upload documents to WebAdvisor
WebAdvisor is your tool for course selection, finances, and more. You will become more familiar with this as you prepare to join us this fall. Login information was/will be emailed to you shortly after accepting your offer of admission.
- Visit the ‘My Documents’ page on WebAdvisor.
- Upload a scanned copy of your passport to the item "Passport Verification - PAL"
- Upload your proof of deposit payment to the item "Deposit Verification - PAL"
- Once the documents have been uploaded, the status on WebAdvisor will show as ‘received’
Step 5: Wait for next steps
Once your documents are received, U of G will issue a PAL. You will be notified by email once it’s ready for you to download from WebAdvisor.
Please note: We will start issuing PALs for the 2025 intake once the allocation is confirmed. You will receive an email notification when we are ready to proceed, which is expected to be in February 2025.
Step 6: Apply for your study permit
Once you have received your PAL, follow the instructions on the IRCC website to complete your study permit application.
Immigration and Pre-Arrival Support
U of G’s Global Pre-Arrival Support (GPS) Advisor is a central point of contact for new international students from the moment you receive an offer of admission through to your first semester.
The GPS Advisor can help you to:
- Navigate the university system;
- Explain and clarify immigration and institutional policies;
- Describe the overarching expectations of students; and
- Facilitate connections with other campus or community supports, resources or services.
Students with an Offer of Admission should monitor their email for additional updates and event invitations from the GPS team.
Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
The University of Guelph is a public university, meaning U of G operates under government regulations and is accountable to the public. You can rest assured we provide a top-ranked, high-quality education experience.
U of G’s Designated Learning Institution Number is O19305391192, which covers our main campus, Ridgetown Campus, and the University of Guelph-Humber. Our campuses are not impacted by the discontinuation of post-graduate work permits (PGWPs).
For more information about PGWP eligibility, please visit the Government of Canada website: Work in Canada after you graduate.
All new study permit applicants will require a PAL, unless exempted by IRCC. For a list of exemption criteria, please visit the Government of Canada website.
If you have been identified as needing a PAL, you will receive more information from U of G once they have received an offer of admission.
If you believe you may qualify for an exemption, please schedule an appointment with our Global Pre-Arrival Support (GPS) advisor as soon as possible to review your circumstances.
A study permit issued for one Designated Learning Institution (DLI) cannot be used to enroll at another. Visit Changing your school or Program for more information.
We anticipate that all applicants who accept their offer and complete the above steps will receive a PAL, however, quantities may be limited. You are encouraged to complete the request process as soon as possible.
In the case we are unable to issue you a PAL, or your study permit is denied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you may be eligible for a refund of the international tuition deposit. Additional refund information can be found on the Student Financial Services website.
PALs will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. You are encouraged to complete the process as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
In the case we are unable to issue you a PAL, or your study permit is denied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you may be eligible for a refund of the international tuition deposit. Additional refund information can be found on the Student Financial Services website.
Once U of G has received a copy of your passport and proof of your deposit being paid, we will process your request as quickly as possible.
PAL requests are typically submitted by U of G to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) for processing daily, during business hours. It typically takes 2-3 business days from the completion of your request and all necessary submissions to receive your PAL. You will be notified by email once we have received your PAL and it is ready to download from WebAdvisor.
Please note: We will begin issuing PALs for the 2025 intake once the allocation has been confirmed. This is anticipated in February 2025. You are encouraged to follow the above steps as soon as possible. Requests will be processed in the order they were received.
As of November 8th, students changing DLIs are required to obtain a new study permit. Visit Changing your school or Program for more information.
Please note that in January 2025 all new study permit applicants will require a PAL, unless exempted by IRCC.
Be sure to connect with our Global Pre-Arrival Support (GPS) team if you have any questions.
Undergraduate applicants to the University of Guelph may contact the admission team by emailing intapps@uoguelph.ca.
Graduate applicants to the University of Guelph may contact the admission team by emailing gradapps@uoguelph.ca.
Information for Other Student Groups
This page contains information for future international undergraduate and graduate students at U of G's main campus. All other students should check the following based on their student type:
Visit the Guelph-Humber website for information on the PAL request process.
Students who have been identified as requiring a PAL will be contacted by email with instructions from our Ridgetown Campus.
Students who have been identified as requiring a PAL will be contacted by email with instructions from our English Language Programs department in OpenEd.
Exchange students coming to the University of Guelph (U of G) under an exchange agreement with their home institution, and who do not pay tuition fees to U of G, are exempt from requiring a PAL to apply for a Study Permit.
Visit Centre for International Programs (CIP) website for more info on coming to the University of Guelph as an exchange student.
For all other international student groups, please visit the university update for additional resources and contacts.
The information presented on this page may change from the date of publication. For the most current and accurate information, we strongly recommend referring to the IRCC website or reaching out to the University of Guelph Global Pre-Arrival Support Advisor.