Study and Work Permit Updates

Last updated December 1, 2025

 

In recent months, Canada announced changes to the temporary residence programs, which includes study and work permits. We recognize that some announced changes likely have raised concerns for prospective and current students. We are committed to supporting our students during this time. 
 

ProVincial Attestation Letter (PAL)

Since Jan 22, 2025, most international students who apply for a study permit have to include a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). The federal government announced on Nov 4, 2025 that starting Jan 1, 2026, most graduate students will be exempt from the PAL requirements. Applicants to UBC master and doctoral degree programs won't need a PAL when applying for a study permit after Dec 31, 2025.

Any applicant to UBC who accepts their graduate program offer of admission before Dec 23, 2025 will continue to receive a PAL from UBC. The PAL has to be included with a study permit application submitted prior to Jan 1, 2026. UBC will not issue PAL for graduate students who accept an offer of admission on or after Dec 23, 2025. Any such students will have to wait with their study permit application submission until Jan 1, 2026 when a PAL will not be required any longer due to the exemption.

UBC has a sufficient number of PALs to support all newly admitted graduate degree-seeking students until the PAL exemption starts on Jan 1, 2026. Admitted students will receive their PAL via email within 3 business days after having accepted their graduate degree admission offer.

Please review these common PAL questions and this detailed guide how to apply for your initial study permit!

Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP)

Full-time UBC international students who graduate from a Master’s or a Doctoral degree program and who meet all of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility criteria may be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit for up to three years.

Graduates of master’s degree programs continue to be eligible for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) for 3 years, even if their program of study is longer than 8 months and shorter than 2 years, so long as they meet PGWP eligibility requirements.

Graduate certificates and diplomas are not master's degrees and thus fall under other criteria, including program length (8 months or longer) and field of study requirements.

Spousal Open Work Permits

Spouses and common-law partners of students in master’s programs of 16 months or longer and doctoral degree programs are eligible for a spousal open work permit. Most of the time, the spousal open work permit will be valid for the same period of time as the study permit.

 

We will provide further updates as they become available.

UBC is a government-approved Designated Learning Institution (DLI) with DLI number O19330231062. 

For the latest updates please review the information published by

UBC's International Student Development