British Columbia’s Attestation Letter System

The provincial attestation letter system involves a verification process where letters are issued by the province to educational institutions and then forwarded to international students. These letters confirm the students’ eligibility within the federal limits for international admissions. Provincial Attestation Letters are necessary for study permit applications, the letters ensure institutions stay within their allocated number of international students, with new allocations provided annually by the federal government. 

For 2024, British Columbia is set to accept 83,000 undergraduate study permit applications, a decrease from 2023’s 97,000. This adjustment aligns with the federal government’s expectations to approve around 50,000 of these applications, reflecting a reduction from the previous year’s 60,000 approved permits in B.C.

Provincial attestation letters for British Columbia will be distributed with 53% allocated to public institutions and 47% to private institutions. This allocation supports public post-secondary institutions in sustaining their international student programs and managing growth.

The 2024 allocations for provincial attestation letters will enable public post-secondary institutions with sustainable international programs to continue their operations smoothly. In contrast, private institutions, particularly those that have expanded rapidly and unsustainably, will face significant reductions, receiving 27% fewer study permit applications than in the previous year.