List of required documents
Depending on your situation, you will need certain documents from UBC before you submit your immigration application. These documents must be included in your study permit application, among other requirements:
- Letter of Admission (required for all new students)
- Provincial Attestation Letter (required for most new students)
- Letter of Enrolment (for current, continuing, and returning students)
If your program is 6 months or less, you do not need to apply for a study permit.
Letter of Admission
You must apply to UBC and receive your Letter of Admission, also known as an offer letter, before you can apply for your study permit. Depending on your program or faculty, you will need to accept your offer and might need to pay a deposit to get your Letter of Admission.
You can use your Letter of Admission to apply for your study permit even if it has conditions. Include a section on your letter of explanation to address how you will meet the condition(s) and provide supporting documents, if possible.
You should be able to download your Letter of Admission from the online platform you used to apply to UBC, or it may have been sent to you by your program. Check the Provincial Attestation Letter page to find out how to get your Letter of Admission for your program.
Provincial Attestation Letter
A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is a document which confirms a student has a spot in the provincial allocation for study permits and is included in the yearly federal cap to submit a study permit application.
Learn more about the Provincial Attestation Letter and if you need it for your study permit application.
Letter of Enrolment
Your Letter of Enrolment shows your current registration at UBC. This letter can be used to explain details about your studies, show current and future enrolment, and indicate the remaining time you need to complete your program. You can only obtain one after registration has opened and you are registered. Review registration dates for the term.
You will need a current Letter of Enrolment issued within the past 30 days for many inside Canada immigration applications, such as:
- Study permit extension
- Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)
- Co-op work permit application
- If you’re outside Canada applying for a study permit to return as a current/returning student
- For your family’s applications
In many applications, the officer will determine the length of the immigration document based on your letter of enrolment. Therefore, it’s important to ensure you use the correct letter with the right information.
Important tips for your Letter of Enrolment
Do not use the Letter of Admission you received when you were first accepted to UBC (unless you are a new student or are about to start a second program at UBC).
Learn how to get your Letter of Enrolment, known as a “Confirmation of Enrolment Letter” in Workday. Be sure to select the most recent academic session (Winter or Summer Session). If the letter does not indicate you are enrolled full-time for immigration purposes, contact International Student Advising for support.
Your Letter of Enrolment indicates your remaining program length. For undergraduate students, this is based on your Class Standing (previously known as your “year level” in the Student Service Centre). For example, if you issue your Letter of Enrolment in December 2024, and your letter states you have Class Standing 3, this indicates you would complete your program in April 2026.
Contact an Academic Advisor from your faculty or your graduate program staff to request a customized Letter of Enrolment only if:
- You need additional time to finish your program requirements than what your Workday Letter of Enrolment indicates, for example your letter indicates you are enrolled until the end of the current academic session in April but you will need additional terms to finish your program requirements, you are in a co-op program, you transferred credits to UBC, you are in a thesis-based program, or you need more time based on your anticipated course load.
- You are applying at the end of the Winter Session Term 2 (Jan-Apr) or during the Summer Session (May-Aug) before registration opens for the following Winter Session (Sep-Apr).
- You are on a gap in studies. Contact International Student Advising for support with your application.
If you have questions
For support with obtaining your Letter of Admission:
- Undergraduate students: contact undergraduate admissions.
- Graduate students: contact your graduate program staff.
- Current and returning students: contact Academic Advising or your graduate program staff for your Letter of Enrolment.
- VIRS and exchange students: contact Go Global.
- Unclassified, access studies and visiting students: contact Enrolment Services Advisors.
For support with getting your Provincial Attestation Letter, contact ubc.pal@ubc.ca.
For support with your study permit application, travel documents, or other immigration questions, contact International Student Advising.
International Student Guide
Find everything you need to know about life as an international student at UBC’s Vancouver campus.
Health and immigration updates and FAQs
Get the latest updates on immigration and health insurance for international students in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
The information on this page may change
The immigration information on this page has been reviewed and endorsed by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. However, this is not a legal document and information may change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.