IRCC updates to study permit process and work permit eligibility

• Please review the information shared on this page to see if your question has already been answered here. We will continue to update this page as more details become available.
• If you have questions about your application to Sheridan, or are looking for updates, support or information about Sheridan, contact the Sheridan representative for your geographic area.
• You can also review the Government of Canada website for international students for more information: Information for applicants applying for study permits

A Provincial Attestation Letter is a document created by the government. It verifies that each study permit applicant has been accounted for within the new cap set by the federal government.

International students applying for a study permit after 8:30 a.m. EST on January 22, 2024 is required to submit a PAL along with their study permit application.

The Province of Ontario has provided Sheridan with an allotment of PALs, which Sheridan allocates to incoming international students with their offers of admission.

PAL letters are issued to applicants who are admitted and paid fees. After a PAL letter is issued, it will be posted in Sheridan's applicant portal.

If the IRCC received (or receives) your study permit application after 8:30 a.m. EST on January 22, 2024, you will be required to provide a PAL with your study permit application.

You don’t need a PAL/TAL when applying for a study permit if you’ve entered Canada and one of the following situations applies to you:

• You’re applying for a study permit extension at the same designated learning institution (DLI) and level of study as your current study permit.
• You’re under a removal order, but can’t be removed from Canada at this time.
• You have a temporary resident permit valid for at least 6 months.
• You’re a protected person.
• You’re eligible for permanent residence:
  • Based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, or
  • Based on a current public policy, or
  • As a spouse or common-law partner (through the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class).

Please refer to the IRCC website for updated information.

Yes. A PAL is required for all study permit applications submitted after January 22, 2024, regardless of which Sheridan program you are applying to.

If you have received an offer of admission to Sheridan and paid fees, you should also have been issued a PAL unless you are exempted from it (refer to question Who does NOT need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)?).

We are working through this process as quickly as possible to support our applicants.

If you have further questions, please email admissions@sheridancollege.ca

There is no need to request new PALs for these changes. PAL letters are not tied to a program, term or campus. As long as it has not expired, you can apply for the study permit with it.

The process is not yet available. Once the Government of Ontario assigns the 2025 PAL letters to the colleges and universities, Sheridan will resume issuing PAL letters.

Please monitor this page for updates.

Sheridan will do everything it can to keep you admitted into the term and program that was offered. Given enrolment caps and other changes being communicated by IRCC, there may be instances where we will offer you an alternative start term and/or program(s).

If you have been admitted into a program, we can help you defer your admission to the next intake. Please complete the International New Student Deferral/Refund Form to begin this process.

All fees are subject to a non-refundable registration charge.

Requests to withdraw must be made using the International New Student Deferral/Refund Form before the tenth day of class in the current semester. Refer to the International Payment Information page for more information.

Application fees are non-refundable. If you have been admitted into a program, we can help you defer your admission to the next intake. Please complete the International New Student Deferral/Refund Form.

Yes. Sheridan is continuing to process applications and admit students. We are actively allocating PALs to incoming international students with their offers of admission. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to ensure you receive a PAL and secure your spot in your program.

Apply online today!

If you have concerns about your application fee, let us know by using our Contact Form — if the program you are applying for is open, we may waive the application fee.

Sheridan is continuing to process applications and admit students. The changes announced by IRCC affect the process of acquiring a study permit as well as PGWP eligibility requirements. Please refer to IRCC's website for the latest information.

Admission to open programs occurs daily for all applicants. Students with approved study permits are able to finalize their admission process earlier than those that have to wait and apply for their study permit.

This information is best answered by IRCC. Refer to IRCC's website for the latest information.

All programs are eligible within the enrolment cap, except for 1-year business programs.

On September 18, 2024, the Government of Canada announced the following changes to the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) process:

• Students who submit their study permit application after November 1, 2024 will only be eligible for PGWPs (upon completion of program) if their field of study is linked to labour market shortages in Canada identified by the federal government. See which Sheridan programs meet this requirement.
• Ontario college graduates who apply for a PGWP on or after November 1, 2024 will now be required to meet language proficiency requirements under the Canadian Language Benchmarks, Level 5.

Sheridan is a publicly funded institution accredited by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities in Ontario.

Interested applicants can connect directly with our Recruitment team to discuss program options and how to apply. You may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Please contact us using this form.

If you are a current international student studying in Canada and enrolled in one of Sheridan's programs, you will not be directly affected by the cap on international study permit applications.

However, the changes that IRCC announced to the PGWP program on September 18, 2024 may affect you:

• Students who submit their study permit application after November 1, 2024 will only be eligible for PGWPs (upon completion of program) if their field of study is linked to labour market shortages in Canada identified by the federal government. See which Sheridan programs meet this requirement.
• Ontario college graduates who apply for a PGWP on or after November 1, 2024 will now be required to meet language proficiency requirements under the Canadian Language Benchmarks, Level 5.

Currently, the equivalent IELTS score would be achieving a 5.0 in each of Writing, Listening and Speaking and a 4.0 in Reading.

Check this web page regularly for updates. We will try to keep everyone informed about the processes, decisions and deadlines as they become available.

Open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students in master’s and doctoral programs. The spouses of international students in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible.

IRCC has announced that students who begin a college program delivered through a public–private partnership on May 15, 2024 or later will not be eligible to apply for a post-graduation work permit. Please refer to IRCC's website.

Sheridan at CCTT is a public–private partnership.

If you are interested in transferring to one of the GTA campuses, we can work with you around that process. Please contact us at admissions@sheridancollege.ca