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This information is subject to change as the Government of Canada provides additional details on the changes to the International Student Program. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
If you have gained admission to UNB, you are eligible for a provincial attestation letter (PAL). Once admitted, you should complete the “Request for Provincial Attestation Letter” form, found on the application portal.
If you have not done so, you must activate your UNB student account. This will allow you to pay your tuition deposit. It will also give you access to helpful information that is only available to UNB students.
If you have trouble setting up your account, please take a screenshot and contact the IT Service Desk.
Since the number of PALs available for international students studying in New Brunswick are limited, UNB will require a tuition deposit of CAD$8,000 to issue a PAL. The tuition deposit is non-refundable, except in cases where students are unsuccessful in receiving a PAL or a study permit.
Learn more about our financial policies.
This deposit helps UNB ensure that PALs are issued only to students who plan to attend. This is not an additional charge for international students, but a credit that will go toward paying your tuition and fees.
Any previous admission/tuition deposits made to UNB will be credited toward your tuition deposit (e.g., if you have already paid $100 to UNB to confirm your offer of admission, your deposit amount will be $7,900). Please note: Application and residence fees are not counted toward the tuition deposit.
Once you have completed step 2 and are logged into your UNB student account, visit UNB’s CIBC International Student Payment portal to start the payment process. Payment tutorials are provided in English, French, Hindi, Spanish and Chinese.
Note: Students travelling to UNB through the partnership agreement with the Bhutan Ministry of Education, as well as any students coming to UNB through an exchange program, are exempt from having to pay the CAD$8,000 tuition deposit.
Once your tuition deposit has been received, UNB will request a PAL from the province of New Brunswick for you. UNB will notify you via email once your request for a PAL has been submitted. The province has indicated the PAL processing time will be approximately two weeks.
If your PAL application is denied by the province, you will be notified by UNB and provided with the next steps to acquire a refund for your tuition deposit.
If your application is approved, your PAL will be uploaded to your application portal to download, and you will be notified by email. Please be sure to regularly check the email you provided on your original application.
Once your PAL application is approved, you can begin your application for a study permit through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Please note: You need to have a valid PAL to submit your study permit application. Your PAL will stay valid for eight weeks from the date of issuance. Please complete your study permit application within this eight-week period.
To get set up to complete your study permit application, you can attend virtual pre-arrival information sessions through the UNB International Student Advisor’s Office (ISAO). These sessions will provide you with information about the study permit process and the documents you will need to complete the application.
You do not need to have received your approved PAL to attend these sessions. Students are encouraged to attend and ask questions to ensure they have everything they need to complete the study permit application within the eight-week timeframe.
The information session series is called Project Headstart and is available to all new international UNB students.
Virtual information sessions addressing the study permit application process will be offered at 9 a.m. ADT on:
You are invited to join each week to learn more about how to kickstart your journey to UNB. Each session will provide information and updates followed by a chance for students to ask any questions they may have.
Join the sessions. For greatest functionality (such as the ability to submit a question via the chat function, we recommend that you are logged in to your UNB student account when you join these sessions.
See Project Headstart to learn more about upcoming sessions and how to join. UNB credentials are needed.
For general inquiries about getting started on your path to UNB, contact chooseunb@unb.ca.
You can find your UNB student ID and login ID on your letter of acceptance, uploaded to your application portal. After logging into the application portal, click on your application, then “decision history” to find and download your letter of acceptance. Learn how to claim your UNB student account.
If you are having trouble setting up your UNB credentials, please reach out to the IT Service Desk at itservicedesk@unb.ca for technical support. You can help our technicians along by providing screenshots, if applicable.
UNB’s application portal and UNB student account are two different portals. The application portal allows you to submit an application to study at UNB. Your student account is a secure portal where accepted and current UNB students access internal resources. You submit your PAL request through your application portal. You complete your tuition payment through your student account.
If you are from a sanctioned country, and therefore unable to pay through the CIBC International Student Pay Portal, please email finserv@unb.ca for options.
According to IRCC, if you are applying for an exchange that is 6 months or longer, you will require both a PAL and a Canadian study permit. Exchange students are exempt from the CAD$8,000 tuition deposit.
No, if you have applied for your study permit before this time, you do not need a PAL.
The number of PALs dedicated to UNB students are limited. The CAD$8,000 tuition deposit helps UNB ensure that PALs are issued to students who plan to attend UNB. Any previous admission or tuition deposits made to UNB will be credited toward the CAD$8,000 tuition deposit (e.g., if you have already paid $100 to confirm your offer of admission, your tuition deposit amount will be $7,900).
Please note: Application and residence fees are not counted toward the tuition deposit.
The province has indicated the PAL processing time will be approximately two weeks.
Once your tuition deposit has been received, UNB will request a PAL from the province of New Brunswick for you. UNB will notify you via email once your request for a PAL has been submitted. The province has indicated the PAL processing time will be approximately two weeks.
If your PAL application is denied, you will be notified by UNB and provided with the next steps to acquire a refund for your tuition deposit.
If your study permit application is denied, you will be notified by IRCC. You will then need to contact the Admission’s Office to advise UNB of the denial and to take the next steps to acquire a refund of your tuition deposit. Anyone requesting a refund should be sure to include their name, student ID and a copy of their study permit rejection letter from IRCC.
For more information about requesting a refund, refer to UNB’s fees and regulations.
Yes, you will need your approved PAL to move ahead with the application for your study permit. You have eight weeks from the PAL issue date to submit your study permit application through IRCC.
We recommend attending virtual pre-arrival information sessions (Project Headstart) through ISAO to learn what you will need to complete your study permit application within the eight-week timeframe.
On March 20, 2024, IRCC’s processing time page indicated the current processing time was 11 weeks for study permits. You can visit IRCC to check on updates for study permit processing times.
If you have already submitted your study permit application, you can use IRCC’s application status tool.
We understand that the uncertainty is stressful. The International Student Advisor’s Office (ISAO) will be holding weekly virtual meetings to go over the steps of applying for your study permit. We will take you through the required documents and IRCC portal, so you can be ready to submit the study permit application as soon as you receive your PAL.
We recommend that you visit our virtual pre-arrival program (Project Headstart) to get the login information and the weekly topics for these sessions.
If you were unable to submit your study permit application within eight weeks of your PAL issue date, your PAL will expire, and you will not be eligible to apply for a study permit.
Due to a limited number of PALs in the province, you will not be able to receive another PAL in New Brunswick during this academic year. If you wish to continue your application during this cycle, you will need to apply for a PAL in a different province.
Admitted students who have already applied for their study permit should request an admission deferral. UNB credentials are needed. If you have not yet applied for your study permit and your PAL is expired, you are ineligible to receive a new PAL for the 2024-2025 academic year and will be required to reapply for Fall 2025. Any deposits paid toward tuition can be applied to a future term.
Yes, students travelling to UNB through the partnership agreement with the Bhutan Ministry of Education still need a PAL and a Canadian study permit. The only difference in the process for these students is they are exempt from having to pay the CAD$8,000 tuition deposit.
No. Students who do not require a PAL do not need to pay the tuition deposit. Please reach out to chooseunb@unb.ca to have the PAL process waived.
In-Canada international students who need to extend their study permits are exempt from the PAL requirement in accordance with IRPR 215(1).
Highschool students who move into post-secondary studies do not need a new study permit. However, if your study permit expires soon, you need to apply for a new one. Please contact the International Student Advisor’s Office (isao@unb.ca) if you have questions or need assistance.
No. In-Canada International students who need to extend their study permits are exempt from the PAL requirement in accordance with IRPR 225(1).