International Student Program Changes

• If you took an English language proficiency (ELP) test for admission to NAIT, your test result may expire before you apply for a PGWP, so you may need to write a new ELP test. However, the language requirement for the PGWP is lower than NAIT's ELP currently needed for admission.
• If you did not need to take an ELP test for admission to NAIT, you will still be required to write an ELP test in order to apply for a PGWP after you graduate. Since the language requirement for the PGWP is lower than NAIT’s ELP standard, we anticipate NAIT graduates will have the language skills to meet the requirement when applying for a PGWP.

Yes! Please use the International Transfer Application Form (pdf) to request to transfer your current application to another program at NAIT. Before submitting the form, please:

• Review the International Applicant tab on the program page to ensure it is PGWP-eligible;
• Check to ensure you meet the admission requirements and program availability of the new program you’re interested.

Note: Submission of this form does NOT guarantee admission to the new requested program. NAIT will review and assess your application to determine eligibility – you’ll be notified via email regarding the status of your request.  

NAIT is not offering application or deposit refunds due to the PGWP changes. But you may be eligible to transfer your original application to a new program that's PGWP-eligible - see information in the question above.

Students who have already applied to NAIT should note that if you submitted your study permit application before November 1, 2024, the new field of study requirements for the PGWP do not apply to you.

NAIT received the following e-mail clarification from IRCC and is waiting for this information to be published on IRCC's website: 

If you apply for a study permit extension on or after November 1, 2024, under the same program of study as the study permit you applied for before November 1, 2024, then your program of study does not need to meet the field of study requirement. 

If you apply for a study permit extension on or after November 1, 2024, under a different program of study than the study permit you applied for before November 1, 2024, then your study permit extension application must meet the field of study requirements to be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). 

In addition to meeting IRCC's existing PGWP eligibility criteria, you’ll now need to pass a language test (a minimum level of CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French for all four language areas) taken within 2 years of when you submit your PGWP application.

A provincial attestation letter (PAL) is a formal document that confirms details about a student. It also proves that you've been accounted for under the national study permit application cap. 

As of January 22, 2024 most new study permit applications submitted to IRCC for a NAIT program must include an attestation letter from the Province of Alberta.

Most NAIT international students will need to include a PAL with their application for a new study permit.

There are a few exemptions where students may not need a PAL when applying for their study permit.

If you already have your study permit or submitted a study permit application before January 22, 2024, you do not need a PAL.

If you are applying for a Study permit extension, you may not need a PAL. Please see the exemptions outlined here.

If you do not already have a study permit, you will need to:

1. Pay your tuition deposit to accept your offer of admission to NAIT. 
2. Wait for the required PAL. NAIT will notify you by email when this letter is available. In most cases, you can expect your PAL within seven (7) business days of paying your deposit.
3. Submit your PAL with your study permit application (not after). 

If you require a PAL, we’ll send a notification to the email listed on your MyNAIT profile once your PAL is available. Please check your email frequently.

Once you have paid your tuition deposit to accept an offer of admission to NAIT, NAIT will request a PAL for you. Please ensure that you have met any admission conditions and continue to check your email frequently for instructions about your PAL.

In most cases, you can expect your PAL within seven (7) business days of paying your deposit. Once available, you can download your PAL in your MyNAIT portal.

When your PAL is available, it will be posted to your MyNAIT portal, under the ‘Submission of Documents’ section. You will be sent an email once your letter is available.

To access the letter:

• Log in to your MyNAIT portal
• Select "Open Self Service"
• Click on the "Admissions" tile
• Select your NAIT application
• Click "NAIT Submission of Documents" where your PAL has been uploaded.

Yes. If you previously received a PAL that has now expired and you need a new one to apply for a study permit, follow these steps to request a new PAL:

1. Visit our Contact Form 

2. Select Admission Questions >> Provincial Attestation Letter Request 

Make sure you pay your tuition deposit early to allow adequate time to receive your PAL and to apply for and receive your study permit.

Under certain circumstances, if your study permit is delayed, you may qualify for a deferral of your admission to a future term. Please review NAIT's Admissions Deferral process for more information about your options if your study permit is delayed.

Yes, you can still apply to the programs offered to international students at NAIT.

Yes, NAIT continues to welcome and process applications from international students. If you’re accepted for admission, you will receive an e-letter in your MyNAIT portal and an official Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from NAIT.

If you are admitted to NAIT, you will need to pay your tuition deposit first in order to be issued a provincial attestation letter to use when applying for your study permit. 

NAIT does not participate in any public-private partnerships (PPP), and the Post-Graduation Work Permit changes announced about these partnerships will not impact NAIT students in any way.