International

NAIT offers over 100 programs, and several of them are only available at our school. These programs include:

• Business
• Construction/Architecture
• Computers & IT
• Culinary & Hospitality
• Design & Communications
• Engineering Technologies
• English Language

See full list of international programs

NAIT is a designated learning institution (DLI# O18713200642) with programs eligible for the study permit and post-graduation work permit.

You will likely be able to apply for permanent residency if you:

• study in a program that is two years or more with a Canadian study permit
• obtain a work permit after graduating after graduating, and
• find a job in Alberta

NAIT has a team of licensed, immigration professionals on campus to help you with this process.

Unless you come from one of the English Language Proficiency exempt countries, the average requirement is IELTS 6.0, with no section less than 6.0.

However, some programs may be different. Please check the English requirements for your program of interest.

Once you have paid your tuition deposit to accept an offer of admission to NAIT, NAIT will request a PAL for you. NAIT will notify you by email when your PAL is available; you do not need to contact us to request a PAL. In most cases, you can expect your PAL within seven (7) business days of paying your deposit.

The PAL email will be sent to your email listed on your profile on MyNAIT. 

For more information on NAIT's PAL process, review this page to learn more.

If you are studying full-time in a designated learning program at NAIT, then you can likely work.

As IRCC announced in January 2024, there will soon be changes to the eligibility requirements to get an initial open work permit as the spouse or common-law partner of an international student.

At this time, if you are or will be studying full-time in a certificate, diploma, or degree program that is at least 8 months long, your spouse or common-law partner can apply for an open work permit. However, when the changes noted above come into effect, only spouses of international students in master’s and doctoral programs will be eligible for an open work permit, which means the spouses of NAIT students will no longer be eligible to apply for an initial open work permit. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has not said when this change will come into effect. View IRCC's process to apply for a spousal/common-law partner work permit.

Spouses of international students extending existing open work permits will be allowed to do so even after initial eligibility is restricted to spouses of graduate and doctoral students. As such, if your spouse is already in Canada with an open work permit, this IRCC announcement should not impact you. If your spouse needs to extend their open work permit, you should give a copy of your study permit, proof of your relationship, and a Confirmation of Enrollment letter to your spouse/common-law partner to include in their application. 

If you are studying in ESL, Academic Upgrading, open studies, or in a certificate program shorter than 8 months long, your spouse/common-law partner is not eligible for an open work permit.

 Edmonton has many options for living Students can rent full houses, condominiums, apartments.

Many students meet their potential roommates at the International Centre, International Centre events, or on orientation day.

We also have contracts with two universities for student housing—you can stay in their residence and take the transit or bus directly to NAIT

As an international student, view our application checklist for instructions on  how to apply to NAIT. We also have the following tools to help you fill in and submit your application.

Review international how to apply guide

How to apply Step 1: Apply using NAIT's International Application for Admission

• Need help applying? Use NAIT's step-by-step PDF guide for international applicants

How to apply Step 2: Submitting your documents

How to apply Step 3: Review your MyNAIT portal

How to apply Step 4: Accepting your offer to NAIT”

Applications open on:

• August 1 for the following Fall semester
• January 1 for the following Winter semester
• Stay tuned for Spring semester date