New requirements for international student visas

If you're an international student and you receive an offer of admission from Waterloo, you'll need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) before you can apply for your study permit.

First, 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.

You may be exempt

Are you already studying at Waterloo?

Visit the study permit updates for current Waterloo students.

Are you a high school student in Canada with a student visa?

You may be exempt. See details for high school students below.

Are you a master's or PhD student?

Learn how provincial attestation letter requirements may impact graduate students.

Attestation letter process

  • A provincial attestation letter (PAL) must be included with study permit applications submitted after January 22, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET. If you're planning to study at Waterloo, the PAL must be provided by the Government of Ontario, the province in which the University of Waterloo is located.
  • Other than a few exemptions, most international applicants to undergraduate degrees and English language pathway programs will be required to provide a PAL.
    • Exemptions include students with valid study permits who are extending them from within Canada.
    • Take our quizto see if you need a PAL.
  • If you're required to request a PAL, you'll need to accept your Offer of Admission from Waterloo and provide a $1,000 tuition deposit before you are able to access your PAL. This deposit will not be refundable except in exceptional circumstances. You'll receive your PAL through the same Waterloo website (Quest) where you access your Offer Letter/Letter of Acceptance.

Student permit process

  • Please do not submit your study permit application without the required PAL. The Canadian government will return student visa applications submitted without a PAL. Resubmitting an application will delay its processing.

Financial requirements

  • The Government of Canada has updated the financial requirements for study permit applicants. This change applies to new study permit applications received on or after January 1, 2024. The new amounts reflect updated cost-of-living requirements.

We're here to help

If you're a high school or transfer student and have questions, please email our immigration consulting team at immigration.sso@uwaterloo.ca.

Frequently asked questions

Study permits

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

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

Once you’ve received an offer of admission to Waterloo, you can apply to extend your study permit from within Canada for your undergraduate studies. If you extend your study permit from within Canada, you are exempt from requiring a PAL. If you leave Canada and plan to apply for a new study permit from outside of Canada, you will require a PAL.

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.

What do I do if I receive a Waterloo offer of admission after I've already applied for a study permit using an offer and PAL from another school?

Please see our New students outside of Canada study permit page for details on how to deal with this situation. If possible, it's best you make a final decision about the institution you want to attend and obtain the appropriate PAL before submitting your study permit application.

I submitted my study permit application on or after January 22, 2024. What happens now?

If you require a PAL, and you submitted your study permit application on or after January 22, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET, it will not be processed and you will be issued a refund. This doesn’t mean your application was rejected. You can apply again once you have obtained a PAL.

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.

  1. Once you receive a Waterloo offer of admission, log in to Quest.
  2. Select the Personal Information tile.
  3. Scroll down to "Provincial Attestation Letter."
  4. Select the term for which you require the PAL.
  5. 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

  1. Accept your offer of admission and
  2. 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.

  1. Accept your offer of admission.
  2. Learn how to pay your $1,000 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 $1000 tuition deposit, and confirmed your offer of admission, your PAL is normally available in Quest within 3-5 business days. Some students may experience a delay if their 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 applicants 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.

I'm a prospective Master's or PhD student. Do I need a provincial attestation letter (PAL)?

Tuition deposit

How do I pay the $1,000 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?

There is no official deadline, but keep in mind that you need your PAL in order to apply for your study permit. We will request your PAL from the Ontario Government after we receive your tuition deposit.

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?

This is your choice. You can apply for the PAL with the offer of admission you have and later change to your preferred program without needing to apply for a new PAL.

All undergraduate offers of admission will be sent out by May 17 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

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

Visa cap

I applied for a new study permit before January 22, 2024, but haven't received a response yet. Will this new study permit cap affect me?

No, the new cap does not apply to you and your application will be processed.

I'm currently a student at a different university or college in Canada and I'd like to transfer to Waterloo. Does this study permit cap affect me?

If you currently have a valid study permit, you are exempt from the cap and can apply to transfer to Waterloo.

I'm currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at Waterloo. Will the new study permit cap impact me?

No, the study permit cap will not affect you. It applies only to new study permit applications submitted on or after January 22, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Will Waterloo's allotment of study permits be issued on a "first come, first serve" basis?

It's unclear at this time what the process will be for either PALs or study permit allocation. We're confident that we have the systems and supports in place that meet the government’s stated criteria for international students.

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.