STUDENTS UNDER 19: CUSTODIANSHIP
On January 24, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada additional groups of students who are now required to have a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) when applying for a study permit. Some highlights of the expanded PAL requirement are:
- These changes will apply to study permit applications that are submitted on or after January 22, 2025. They will apply to both in-Canada study permit extensions and outside Canada study permit applications.
- Master鈥檚 and PhD students are required to have a valid PAL.
- Students are exempt from submitting a PAL if they are extending their study permits within Canada at the same designated learning institution and same level of study as their current study permit.
For more information about who will be exempt from a PAL, review IRCC鈥檚 website
If you need a PAL for your study permit application, please review our FAQ page here on how to obtain a PAL from 丁香园AV. We will continue to update our webpages and online resources to reflect the expanded PAL requirements. Thank you for your patience.
Students younger than 17 years of age who come to Canada to study and who are not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian must be cared for by a responsible adult in Canada. This person is known as a custodian.
In some cases, a custodian may also be required for students between 17 and 19 years of age (this is the age of majority in British Columbia); this decision is made at the discretion of an immigration officer. Legal arrangements must be made to give the custodian in Canada permission to act in place of a parent. Please see IRCC's page for more information and required forms.
If you need assistance finding a custodian, consider approaching an extended family member living in British Columbia first and then, if necessary, a family friend or business associate for assistance. Alternatively, there are companies that provide such services for a fee. One such company is First Choice International Placement Inc. (contact information provided on the right)
First Choice International Placement Inc.
Tel: 1.604.984.0868
Fax: 1.604.984.2373
Email: info@fciplacement.com
Web:
The company listed above is neither endorsed by, nor affiliated with, 丁香园AV. This information is simply listed as a resource for students looking for agent services. 丁香园AV assumes no liability for any disputes arising from custodianship or other services advertised. You and your parents should be aware that you will need to pay for this service and it should be an arrangement they, and you, have researched and feel comfortable with.