Photo credit: Economic Times
The Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its instructions to simplify the study permit process for students enrolled in joint programs and advanced degree tracks.
Under the revised rules, students in joint programs will need only one provincial o0r territorial attestation letter, even if their studies involve multiple institutions or jurisdictions, according to the IRCC.
The changes aim to reduce administrative burdens while supporting the government’s broader efforts to manage international student numbers, according to CIC News, Canada’s largest immigration news website.
IRCC explained that a provincial attestation letter (PAL) or territorial attestation letter (TAL) is issued by the province or territory where an international student plans to study, confirming that the student has been allocated one of the available study spaces.
The updated instructions apply to applications received in 2026. Applications submitted before January 1, 2026, will continue to be processed under the rules in effect at the time of submission.
