Requirements for international study permits

last updated December 11, 2024

High school students who have received an offer from Waterloo

If you're an international student and you receive an offer of admission from Waterloo, a provincial attestation letter (PAL) is required in order to begin the study permit application process.

Once you receive an offer of admission, you must take a quiz to determine whether you need a provincial attestation letter (PAL). You cannot start the study permit process without taking the quiz because it's the first step in requesting a PAL.

Feel free to contact us if you have questions after reading the information below.

Other students

Transfer students

Transfer students applying to Waterloo will need a PAL and a new student permit.

Master’s and PhD students

Review the requirements on the future graduate students website.

Student permit process

1. See if you need to request a provincial attestation letter (PAL).

To confirm that you’ll be studying at a college or university, the Government of Canada requires a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from the province in which you’ll be studying. For Waterloo students, the PAL will be provided by the Government of Ontario.

If you receive an offer of admission from Waterloo, you’ll need to take a quiz to see if you need to request a provincial attestation letter (PAL).

Other than a few exemptions, most international students applying to undergraduate degrees and English language pathway programs will be required to provide a PAL.
Exemptions may include students with valid study permits who are extending them from within Canada.

Take our quiz(after you receive an offer of admission) to see if you need a PAL.

2. Accept your Offer of Admission and pay your deposit

If you're required to request a PAL, you'll need to accept your Offer of Admission from Waterloo and submit a $2,500 tuition deposit before you are able to access your PAL.

You'll receive your PAL through Waterloo’s Quest website where you access your Offer Letter/Letter of Acceptance.
The deposit is non-refundable except in exceptional circumstances.

3. Apply for your study permit

Once you receive your PAL, you can then use it to submit your study permit application. Please do not submit your study permit application without the required PAL if your application requires it.

The Canadian government will return your student permit application if it doesn’t have a PAL. This will delay the processing of your application and potentially delay your arrival in time for the start of classes.

4. Were you admitted to a co-op program?

If you received an offer of admission to a co-op program, apply for a co-op work permit in your study permit application using your Letter of Acceptance from Waterloo. Highlight all components of the Letter of Acceptance that pertain to your co-op program.

You need a co-op work permit for all co-op work terms or degree-required internships. You must have your co-op work permit before starting your first co-op term, which can be as early as January of your first year for some Engineering programs.

Financial requirements

Visit the Government of Canada website for details about the financial requirements for study permit applicants, including updated cost-of-living requirements.

Tip: Apply for a PAL and study permit as soon as possible

You must have a valid study permit before you can start classes. The application process can take several months so you should apply as early as possible.

If you delay applying for a PAL and study permit and don't receive your permit by September, you may have to delay your studies by up to a year.

Tuition fees
Transfer students and current Waterloo students
Other

Study permits

I'm interested in applying to Waterloo. Can I apply for my study permit now?

Your first step is to apply to the University of Waterloo. If you receive an offer of admission, you can then begin the process of applying for a PAL, and then applying for your study permit.

I received offers of admission from different designated learning institutions. What should I do?

You should apply for your study permit with the offer from your preferred program and institution.

If you've already applied for your study permit with another institution and want to study at Waterloo instead, please update your study permit application via the webform with your Waterloo offer.

If you've already been approved for a study permit from another institution, you must apply for a new study permit with a PAL from Waterloo.

I'm a current high school student with a valid study permit. Will I need a new one?

Yes, you must apply for and obtain your Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) and student permit before starting classes in September. It can take several months for your application to be reviewed so you should apply as soon as you have an offer of admission.

If you don't receive a study permit by September, you may have to delay your studies by up to a year.

What happens if my study permit is denied?

If Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) does not approve your study permit application, you may be eligible for a refund of the tuition deposit required to access your PAL. You'll need to send us documentation that your study permit was denied.

Provincial attestation letters (PALs)

Take the quiz to see if you need a PAL

If you receive or accept an offer of admission, our quiz will help you understand whether you may need a PAL and what your next steps are. Here’s how to take the quiz.

Once you receive a Waterloo offer of admission, log in to Quest.
Select the Personal Information tile.
Scroll down to "Provincial Attestation Letter."
Select the term for which you require the PAL.
Once you have selected your term, the quiz will open.
- NOTE: at this time, you must take this quiz on a desktop computer.

Is the answer no?

If the answer is “no, you do not need a provincial attestation letter”, you can

Accept your offer of admission and
apply for your study permit.

Is the answer yes?

If the answer is “yes, you require a provincial attestation letter”, there are several steps to follow.

Accept your offer of admission.
Learn how to pay your tuition deposit.
1. We highly recommend paying the tuition deposit using our approved international payment options via credit card because that is processed the most quickly and may appear in your Quest account sooner.
Download your attestation letter from Quest.
1. This will not happen instantly. Depending when your payment appears in Quest, it may take three to five business days for the PAL to appear in your account.
Apply for your study permit.

Is your home address accurate in Quest?

If you need a PAL, please ensure that your home address in Quest is up to date. Your address will be sent to the Ontario Ministry of Education to request the PAL. If the address noted on your PAL is different than what you use for your study permit application, it may cause issues with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and delay your study permit.

How to check your address in Quest.

How long will it take to get my PAL?

Once you've completed the PAL quiz, paid the tuition deposit, and confirmed your Offer of Admission, your PAL is normally available in Quest within 3-5 business days. You may experience a delay if your tuition deposit takes longer to process.

We strongly recommend paying the tuition deposit by credit card to speed up the process.

Where can I find my PAL?

The PAL will be uploaded to your Quest account.

Log in to Quest.
Select the Personal Information tile.
- Scroll down to Provincial Attestation Letter.

Am I exempt from the provincial attestation letter (PAL) requirement?

Other than a few exemptions, most international students applying to undergraduate degree and English language pathway programs will be required to provide a PAL. You can take our quiz to see if you need a PAL.

How do I know if Waterloo has received my PAL application?

If Quest won't let you submit your application again, then your PAL application has been recorded in Quest.

Can I apply for admission to Waterloo without an attestation letter?

Yes, you can apply for admission and submit your transcripts, etc. However, if you receive an offer of admission, then you'll need an attestation letter.

Tuition deposit

How do I pay the $2,500 tuition deposit to get my PAL?

Learn how to pay your tuition deposit from outside Canada.

We highly recommend paying the tuition deposit using the approved international payment options via credit card. That is the fastest way to pay the deposit and have it appear in your Quest account sooner.

You will see two options when you click on the link above: Convera or CIBC payment portal. There are various ways to pay the tuition deposit, depending on which option you choose and which country you’re paying from.

Here is an example of what you might see when you choose the CIBC portal option. (video)

Is there a deadline to pay the tuition deposit?

You should begin this process no later than the June 2, 2025 confirmation deadline.

If I find out I don’t need a PAL, but I’ve already paid my tuition deposit, what happens?

The deposit will be applied to your tuition for the fall term.

How can I make sure Waterloo receives my tuition deposit?

Processing times for international payments vary. You can track your payment using the reference number provided on the payment instructions. If the payment doesn’t go through, you’ll need to resubmit it.

How do I see if my tuition deposit was processed?

Once your payment arrives, you can log in to Quest and select the Admissions tile → Finances → Account inquiry to select the term in which the payment was received. Your payment will always be listed under the current academic term in Quest (i.e., spring term = May-August, fall term = September-December, winter term = January-April). This will not impact processing your PAL. The payment will be held on your account as a credit balance and will be applied to your fees for incoming term once your fees are posted.

If you email yourself a copy of your statement from Quest, there is a section in the "Note" that indicates: “For payment received prior to your first term, the Statement Term may not necessarily reflect your Term of Admission”.

I applied to multiple programs at Waterloo and have received one offer. Should I wait for an offer from my preferred program before paying the tuition deposit?

You should apply with the offer of admission letter for the program you want to study, even if that means waiting a bit. The tuition deposit is non-refundable so we recommend you accept the offer of admission to your preferred program.

All undergraduate offers of admission will be sent out by May 16 so you'll know by then which Waterloo programs you've been admitted to.

I've paid for one full year of my tuition already. Is the tuition deposit still necessary?

No, if you've paid your tuition for the fall term, no additional deposit is needed.

Can I have my tuition deposit refunded?

The tuition deposit is non-refundable. The only exceptions are

the University of Waterloo revokes your offer of admission, or
the IRCC does not approve your study permit application (documentation must be provided).

Transfer students and current Waterloo students

I'm a student at a different university or college in Canada and I'd like to transfer to Waterloo. Do I need a PAL and study permit?

If you're transferring from another university or college, yes, you'll need to apply for a PAL and study permit.

You must have your student permit before you start your studies at Waterloo so you should apply for your PAL and student permit as soon as possible.

You may be able to start your studies in January 2025 if you have applied for your study permit.

I'm a current Waterloo student. Do I need a PAL?

Maybe. If you are a current international student applying for an extension to your study permit (regardless of whether you're in Canada or not) you may need a PAL. Take the quiz to determine whether or not you need to apply.

Tuition fees

Can an international student pay domestic fees if their parents hold a Canadian work permit?

Yes, an international student can pay domestic fees at Waterloo if their parents have a valid Closed Work Permit with an employer located in Ontario and supporting documents.

How do I request an update to my immigration status for tuition fee purposes?

If you need to update your immigration status, you can request a change by submitting a Request to Update Residency or Immigration Status with the required documentation prior to the term’s deadline. If your request is approved, your status will be revised and, if applicable, your tuition amounts will be updated.

Other

Is the University of Waterloo a public or private university?

The University of Waterloo is a public institution that was founded in 1957.

Am I eligible to get my post-graduation work permit (PGWP) after I complete my education at Waterloo?

Yes, you're eligible to get your post-graduation work permit after completing your education at Waterloo if you meet the eligibility criteria.