IRCC Study Permit Changes
Study Permit Requirements
As of January 2024, the Government of Canada requires that all new study permit applicants need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the province in which they intend to study.
Do I require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)?
| Your Status | Attestation Letter |
|---|---|
| I have a study permit for my IPP program | Exempt. No attestation letter is required. |
| I am a current IPP student looking to take a second IPP program | Attestation letter may be required in future. |
| My program of study is less than 6 months long (eTA and TRV) | Not applicable. No attestation letter is required. |
| I have not yet applied for a study permit | Required. |
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Requirements
Effective November 1, 2024, applications for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) must meet two new requirements to be eligible. This does not affect PGWP applications submitted prior to November 1, 2024.
New PGWP eligibility requirements:
- Language requirement:
All students, even those who attained their study permits before November 1, 2024, are required to meet new language requirements. Students must provide proof of language ability when submitting their PGWP application. For IPP programs, students must submit a test result proving their English ability is at a minimum level of CLB 7. The test result must be less than two years old at the time of application. See the IRCC website for acceptable test results. - Field of study requirement
Students who obtained their study permits on or after November 1, 2024 must graduate from a program linked to occupations identified as being in long-term shortage by the federal government. All one-year International Professional Programs (or one-year plus WIL) are aligned to the field of study requirements as outlined by the IRCC.
If you submitted your study permit application before November 1, 2024 and plan to apply for a PGWP on or after November 1, 2024, the field of study requirement does not apply.
For more details about the PGWP requirements, see Changes to PGWP eligibility criteria (Government of Canada).
How do the new PGWP eligibility requirements affect me?
| Your Status | Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) |
|---|---|
| I have a PGWP | New requirements are not applicable. |
| I applied for a PGWP prior to November 1, 2024 | New requirements are not applicable. |
| I applied for a study permit prior to November 1, 2024 AND will apply for a PGWP on or after November 1, 2024 | The following new requirement is applicable:
|
| I will apply for a study permit AND PGWP on or after November 1, 2024 | The following new requirements are applicable:
|
Spousal open work permits
Under the current regulations, the program streams that are part of the IPP are considered post-diploma graduate programs at the undergraduate level and do not qualify spouses of our students for open work permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I obtain an attestation letter from the Government of Alberta?
Upon registration and payment in your program (IPP or ELP), the University of Calgary will request your Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the province of Alberta. Once your PAL is available, Continuing Education will notify you via the email address we have on file. You will then be able to upload your PAL as part of your study permit application.
I am a current IPP student and wish to extend my study permit for a second one-year program. Do I need to get a letter of attestation?
If you are a current IPP student and wish to complete a second one-year program, a letter of attestation is not needed.
In future, international students requesting a study permit extension to begin their next credential in Canada may require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). Further details will be confirmed at a later date.
How do I prove my language ability for the PGWP language requirement?
PGWP applicants must submit a test result proving English language skills with a minimum level of CLB 7. Select language test results are accepted. For a list of accepted English tests, see "Language requirements" on Changes to PGWP eligibility criteria (Government of Canada).
Are the International Professional Programs (IPP) still eligible for a post-graduate work permit (PGWP)?
The University of Calgary is a registered Designated Learning Institution (DLI). With this designation, IPP is eligible for post-graduate work.
With the PGWP eligibility changes effective November 1, 2024, we are currently working to ensure that all IPP programs are aligned with the new field of study requirements. See how your status is affected by the eligibility changes in the table above.
I need to take a new English proficiency test to meet the new language requirements. Where can I do that?
There are a number of different places that you can book your testing in Calgary. Please search for and book tests that would qualify using the IRCC website as a resource for acceptable test results.
Will my spouse be eligible for an open work permit?
No, our International Professional Programs are considered post-diploma graduate programs at the undergraduate level and do not qualify the spouses of students for the open work permit that has been previously available.
Our English Language Programs are ESL/FSL programs, and the spouses of students do not qualify for open work permits.
I'm coming to IPP from another institution in Canada with a current study permit, do I need to re-apply for another study permit?
Yes, a new study permit is required. Please refer to the IRCC information here.