[requester]

Record

Archived: June 2, 2025 1025.25 AM From: Immigration Representatives / Représentants immigration (RCC) Sent: [requester] To: Ce: hnmigration Representatives / Représentants immigration URCC) Subject: [requester] Due 25-Feb-25 Importance: Normal Sensitivity: None Good day, Thank you for your inquiry. Please note that the information provided serves as general program guidance and should not be considered a directive for case-specific inquiries. QUESTION My name is / with Can you please provide clarification as to whether a PALis required. We have a student who is currently studying in a Business Administration Post Graduate Diploma Program; admission requires completion of an accredited Bachelor's degree with a minimum 3 academic years from a recognized institution. For September 2025, the student is changing to Health Care Certificate which is a undergraduate vocational program As per the IRCC website https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study permit/get-documents/provincial-attestation-letter.html, a PALis not required if: * You've entered Canada and one of the following situations applies to you © You're applying for a study permit extension at the same DLI and level of study as your current study permit.

My understanding is that IRCC recognizes the following levels of study — primary and secondary education , post-secondary education (including vocational, technical and undergraduate) and graduate education or above. Can you please confirm if IRC considers Post Graduate Diplomas and Certificates as undergraduate or graduate? If undergraduate, then in this case the student moving from a post graduate diploma to a vocational certificate would NOT require a [requester] Yes, your understanding is correct. The new new ministerial instructions define "level of study" into three distinct categories:

© * Primary and secondary education

© * Post-secondary education, which includes vocational and technical training as well as undergraduate programs

© * Graduate education or above IRC does not differentiate between college and university programs within the same level. Post-Graduate Diplomas and Certificates are classified under “Graduate Education”, not “Undergraduate.” In this case, a student moving from a Post- Graduate Diploma to a vocational certificate (an accredited Bachelor's degree) would be moving from graduate education to post-secondary education. Since this is a change in the level of study, the student would require a PAL when applying for a study permit extension.