Clarifications on PAL/TAL Requirements for 2025 Study Permit Applications

On November 4, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released an internal update providing additional clarifications on Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letters (PAL/TAL) – an essential document required for most international students applying for a study permit.

This update does not introduce new policies, but it refines procedural details to ensure consistent and transparent processing across all IRCC offices.

🔍 KEY CLARIFICATIONS FROM IRCC

According to the internal guidance, the following sections have been updated (internal access only):

• Re-use of PAL/TAL during the 2025 allocation period.

• Processing of Joint Programs involving more than one designated learning institution (DLI).

• Closing applications that are not accepted into processing.

• Updated PAL/TAL templates for the 2025 allocation period.

• PAL/TAL exceptions that still require an Organization/Entity ID.

• Instructions when the national study permit cap has been reached.

💡 WHAT THIS MEANS FOR STUDENTS

This update demonstrates IRCC’s continued effort to standardize PAL/TAL processing, ensuring better control of the study permit allocation cap while maintaining efficiency for qualified applicants.

International students and institutions should keep the following in mind:

• Each PAL/TAL can only be used within its valid allocation period.

• Students in joint or dual programs must verify whether a new PAL/TAL is required before reapplying.

• Applications missing a valid PAL/TAL, or submitted after the allocation period, may be closed without processing.

📍 SICON Immigration Consulting
Strategic Immigration & Study Advisory – Transparent. Accurate. Effective.

💬 Contact SICON for:
✔️ A review of your PAL/TAL and study permit documentation.
✔️ The latest IRCC policy updates affecting international students.
✔️ Strategic guidance to plan your study permit submission correctly and on time.