Immigration
As an international student, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have the necessary immigration documents to live and study in Canada. International Student Advisors are available to answer your questions and help you understand your rights and responsibilities.
If you are a new student, please review how to apply for your initial study permit.
Note
Information on this page has been reviewed by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA) in compliance with the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. However, please be aware that this is not a legal document and information may sometimes change without notice. For the most current information, always refer to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
Documents for immigration purpose
International students need documents from SAIT to support their application for Canadian visa and permits. The following documents are listed for you to understand where to apply and get these documents at SAIT.
Letter of Acceptance
A Letter of Acceptance is issued to applicants who have been offered a seat in a SAIT program and have paid a deposit to confirm their seat. This letter is needed to apply for a study permit.
Conditional Letter of Acceptance
A Conditional Letter of Acceptance is issued to applicants who have been offered seat with a condition in a SAIT program and have paid a deposit to confirm their seat. Once the applicant meets the condition(s), e.g. by submitting the final transcript, or completing a prerequisite course/program, an updated regular Letter of Acceptance (unconditional) will be issued.
Confirmation of Enrolment
A Confirmation of Enrolment letter proves your current enrolment status at SAIT and depending on the purpose of it, you might need to request it from different places.
If you need to show proof of your address, such as opening a bank account or applying for your Alberta Health Care card. You can request a Confirmation of Enrolment – Non-Immigration Purpose through mySAIT and it will be uploaded to MyCreds™️ approximately five business days after you submit your request.
If you need to extend your study permit, renew your TRV, apply for a Co-op Work permit or invite your family members to visit you in Canada, you need to request a Confirmation of Enrolment – Immigration Purpose from the international letter request logi form here. The letter will be issued to your SAIT email approximately xxx business days after you submit your request.
PGWP Letter of Completion
A PGWP Letter of Completion is a letter confirms your program completion at SAIT and it’s required for your Post-Graduation Work Permit application. You do not need to request this letter. As long as you’ve applied to graduate in your last semester, this letter will be automatically issued to you through MyCreds™️ approximately after 3-4 weeks once all your final grades are entered.
To share your Letter of Completion with a third party or download a version for yourself, you must purchase “share credits” directly from MyCreds™. Each credit costs $10 + applicable taxes and allows you to share your letter once.
Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)
Your TRV is a document (counterfoil sticker) issued by IRCC, which is placed in your passport. This means that you have met the requirements for admission to Canada as a temporary resident. A TRV can be issued for a single entry or for multiple entries. Typically, international students are issued multiple entry visas.
If you are from a visa-exempt country, you require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) instead of a TRV.
When your initial study permit gets approved, you will automatically get your TRV stamped on your passport. However, if you need to extend your study permit or apply for your PGWP from inside Canada, your TRV will not be automatically renewed with your study permit or PGWP, and you shall renew your TRV separately.
It is okay if your TRV expires as your status in Canada is tied to your study permit. TRV is only required for your entering or re-entering to Canada. Therefore, if you intend to travel outside Canada, you will need a TRV to re-enter Canada. We recommend that students maintain a valid TRV in case emergency travel is required.
We recommend that you apply for a TRV online within Canada and the application fee is $100. Typically, your TRV will be granted for the duration of your study permit.
Once you have signed into your account, you will complete a questionnaire to generate your own personalized document checklist. The application form that you will be submitting is the Application for Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa) Made Outside of Canada (IMM5257).
In addition, you’ll also need to provide the following supporting documents:
- Recent Education Transcript
- Proof of Next Term’s Enrolment — current SAIT international students can request the letter by completing the online letter request form
- Your Study Permit
- Proof of Means of Financial Support — you must provide proof that you can support yourself and any accompanying family members while you are in Canada.
- Passport and Digital photo
Once you apply online and if your application is approved, IRCC will ask you to mail your passport so that the visa can be added to it.
Note: If your study permit is expiring soon, you should renew your study permit before you apply for your TRV. The validity date on your TRV will be tied to your study permit.
Bring your family to Canada
As an international student in Canada, you can have your family members live with you or visit you. You can provide documents to support their temporary resident application to come to Canada.
Spousal open work permit
If you are an international student studying full-time and have a valid study permit, your spouse or common-law partner can apply for an open work permit. Your spouse/partner do not need a job offer to apply, and the Spousal open work permit will be valid for the same period as your study permit. With an open work permit, your spouse/partner can work while you study for any employer unless restricted on the work permit itself.
In order for your spouse to be eligible for an open work permit, you need to study full-time in a certificate, diploma, or degree program that is at least 8 months long. If you are studying in ELF, Academic Upgrading, open studies or a certificate program that is shorter than 8 months, your spouse/partner will not be eligible for an open work permit.
The spousal open work permit can be applied together with your initial study permit, or at a later time after you come to Canada. If the application will be submitted after you start your program, you can include a Confirmation of Enrollment letter from SAIT and a copy of your study permit in the application. For the process to apply for a spousal open work permit, you can visit it here.
Study permit for your children
If you’d like your minor children to accompany you and to study in Canada, you can submit study permit applications for them as part of your initial study permit application or at a later time.
Parents who will have or currently have a valid study permit do not need to include a Letter of Acceptance for their minor children when applying for a study permit.
If the study permit application for your child is submitted after your study permit application has been approved, you should include a copy of your study permit and a Confirmation of Enrollment letter as part of the application.
If your minor children are already in Canada as visitors, they can study without a study permit as long as you have a valid study permit. However, if they will apply for a study permit from inside of Canada, then the application needs a Letter of Acceptance from their school. For more information about minor children studying in Canada, you can visit it here.
Please contact the school board where you intend to enroll your child for information about tuition costs.
Invite family to visit canada
Most visitors to Canada need a Visitor Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization to enter Canada. The documents that your family must submit to apply to visit Canada depend on many factors, such as their nationality and how they will travel to Canada. Your family can discover what documents are needed to apply to visit you in Canada here.
Supporting documents from you:
- Copy of your passport
- Copy of your study permit
- Should be valid for the duration of your family’s proposed visit
- Confirmation of Enrollment Letter
- Letter of Invitation (a letter drafted by you and include information about you, your family members applying to visit Canada, and the purpose of your family’s visit to Canada)
Immigration definitions at SAIT
Full time
SAIT students are considered to be full-time for immigration purposes when enrolled a minimum of nine credits in a semester.
Students are also considered to be full-time for immigration purposes when registered in their mandatory work placement (co-op/practicum/internship course)
Part time
SAIT students who are enrolled in less than 60% of a full course load or less than nine credits are considered to be part-time.
Scheduled breaks
Breaks that are a part of SAIT's academic calendar and that are pre-scheduled as breaks for all students in a particular program and intake.
Please note that if a student decides to take a semester off, this is not considered to be a scheduled break by SAIT. Students cannot create their own scheduled breaks.
Authorized leave
An international student may request and be approved to take an authorized leave for up to 150 days under an extenuating circumstance that adversely affects student’s academic progress. If a request is approved, the student will receive a written confirmation from their school. For further information on taking a leave at SAIT, please see AC. 3.19 and AC. 3.19.1 policy here.
A student on leave who resumes to study within 150 days is considered to be actively pursuing studies during their leave and complying with their study permit conditions. However, they cannot work on or off campus during their leave.
A student on leave will not return to study after 150 days should:
- Change their status to visitor or worker,
- Leave Canada
Maintained status
When a temporary resident applies to extend their permit of authorized stay before it ends, their period of stay is legally extended until a decision is made on the application. For example, when a student applies to extend their study permit before their current permit expires. If the study permit expires before a decision is made, individuals with maintained status may continue studying or working under the same conditions while waiting for a response (as long as they remain in Canada).
Work Permit
International students may eligible to work in Canada during their studies or after graduation with a study, co-op or post-graduate work permit.
Learn moreStudy Permit
International students who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada can start the application process for a study permit once they have received a letter of acceptance and accompanying documentation for IRCC.
Learn more