Frequently Asked Questions

An immigration medical examination (IME) is usually required for any students coming from or living in a designated country or territory for at least six months within the last year or if the student will attend any placement in a teaching or medical environment in Canada.

An IME is usually valid 12 months from the exam date and must be valid upon entry to Canada. Usually, it is first taken during the initial study permit application period; therefore, for students who have been studying outside Canada since their study permit approval, they will need to make sure the IME results are still valid when they travel to Canada.

Continuing students with valid study permits who have left Canada might need a new IME result if they have stayed in a designated country or territory for more than six months in the past year.

The Saitsa Health and Dental Plan covers all international students at SAIT.

The health plan is paid for as part of your tuition. Coverage commences on the first day of September, January, or May, based on the semester you begin your studies at SAIT.

If you have alternate comparable insurance, you must request to opt out of the Saitsa benefits if eligible.

You may also be eligible to apply for Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (ACIP) for free if you meet the eligibility requirements below:

• legally entitled to be in and remain in Canada and make your permanent home in Alberta
• committed to being physically present in Alberta for at least 183 days in any 12 months
• not claiming residency or obtaining benefits under a claim of residency in another province, territory or country
• any other person deemed by the regulations to be a resident or temporary resident, not including a tourist, transient or visitor to Alberta.

If you are under 18, you must be added to the AHCIP account of a custodian to be eligible.

Find more information about health care coverage for temporary residents.

Find out what healthcare services are covered by AHCIP.

Yes, you may study part-time or full-time during a scheduled break and remain eligible to work full-time. 

A scheduled break is a break in your program that is part of SAIT’s academic calendar.

During a scheduled semester break, you can choose to take no courses, a part-time course load of less than nine credits, or a full-time course load of nine credits or more. Taking a part-time course load or no course load during a scheduled break does not impact your immigration status as a student, work authorization or Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility.

Not all programs have a semester-long scheduled break. If you are uncertain whether your program has a scheduled break, please contact your Academic Advisor for detailed information.

The timing of the scheduled break period varies based on which term the program starts.

Learn more by reviewing: Maintaining Your Student Status and Scheduled Breaks page.

SAIT accepts several different payment options from students.

There are now more online payment options for students from Canada, most countries worldwide, and in most currencies. There are also various payment options for third parties, such as parents, family, friends or others, to pay fees online.

If you have a Canadian bank account, you can pay with pre-authorized debit (PADs) or online banking. There are no charges to use these systems. If you use PADs, please ensure you carefully check your account information before submitting your payment and leave sufficient funds in your bank account. It may take a few days for this to process through your bank.

If you don’t have a Canadian bank account, you can pay using a credit card, PayMyTuition, or the CIBC International Student Pay portal.

No, tuition is due per semester at SAIT. However, some students may find it beneficial to pay their first full year's tuition in advance, depending on their own personal circumstances and banking arrangements.

At SAIT, all applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency. English is the language of instruction for all programs at SAIT and is the most common language used in business in Alberta.

If you're in Calgary, you can also take your test via the IELTS test centre at SAIT.

We understand how life can happen and affect your study plan. If you would like to attend SAIT in a future intake, we recommend you read and review the deferral process.

Timing is important when it comes to a refund request. If you are not planning to attend SAIT in the future, please review our refund policy here and cancel your seat in your program.

You do not need an approved study permit to register for your courses.

If your study permit is denied, you must contact us to cancel your spot before the first day of classes.

If you cancel after this, you will not be eligible to receive a full refund.

Deferrals cannot be approved if your study permit application is denied.

If you wish to move to a later intake, you must cancel your current seat and reapply for a later term by paying the $150 application fee.

Review the deferral process for international application deferral eligibility rules.

You do not need an approved study permit to register for your courses.

If you do not register before the deadline, your seat could be rescinded and offered to someone from the waitlist.

If this happens, you will need to contact us to see if there is still a spot for you in the program which will allow you to choose your courses.

If the program is full at that time, you will be placed on the waitlist. Review waitlists to learn your next steps in this situation.

Study permit processing delays may be considered eligible for a deferral in some cases.

Supporting documents and proof of study permit application submission are required for consideration.

If you wish to pursue a deferral, please read and review the deferral process and submit the deferral request form by the deadline.

A declined study permit is not eligible for a deferral.

You will not be eligible for a full refund if you cancel after the first day of class.

Cancellations made after the add/drop period (the first two weeks of the semester) will not receive any money back.

If your study permit application is declined, please let us know by submitting a support ticket and requesting to cancel your application.

You will be eligible for a refund of the full amount you paid minus your tuition deposit and application fee if you cancel before the first day of classes.

You must include a copy of your refusal letter for us to refund your tuition deposit minus a $250 administration fee.

Review our refund policy.

We recommend that you submit your study permit application to IRCC as soon as possible after you receive your Letter of Acceptance from SAIT. 

If you have any questions about the study permit application process or documents required for this application, contact with an international student advisor. 

No, it is not mandatory for you to prepay one year of tuition fees for the study permit application process.

However, this is one of the ways you may show proof of funds, in addition to other accompanying documents to prove you have sufficient funds to cover your other expenses while in Canada (such as accommodation, travel, etc.) 

Proof of financial support and a clear, concise study plan submitted with your application will increase the likelihood of a positive outcome for your study permit application.

Proof of financial support

You must be able to provide proof of sufficient funds to cover the cost of your tuition fees and living costs for your stay in Canada. You must be able to show enough financial resources to cover at least the first year of tuition fees and living costs, and provide a plan on how you will be supported during the subsequent year of your studies. The documentation you submit to IRCC as proof of your means of financial support can be found on the IRCC website.

Clearly outline the following questions in your study plan and upload this document in the Client Information section of your application checklist:

• Why do you wish to study in Canada in the program for which you have been accepted?
• What is your overall educational goal?
• Why are you not pursuing a similar program in your country of residence?
• What research have you done into studies in your country of residence or citizenship?
• How will this program enhance your employment opportunities in your country of residence or citizenship?
• What ties do you have to your country of residence or citizenship?
• If it has been more than two years since you left full-time education, please provide your CV (résumé). Highlight how the new program ties into your work experience, where applicable.
• If you or your family live in a country other than your country of citizenship, include copies of your residence documents.

IRCC processing will review your application, and you will receive any updates on your application via email to the email address connected to the IRCC account in which you submitted the application. Ensure you monitor your email regularly, as IRCC may require additional documents to process your application.

• If you have not provided biometrics in the past 10 years, you will receive a Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL) in your IRCC account. Biometric enrolment must be completed within 30 days of the issue date listed on the BIL.
• If you are required to undergo a medical exam, and you did not provide an upfront medical exam in your application, you can expect to receive a medical exam request from IRCC.
• Each country has a different processing time, and the processing time does not remain the same. For current processing time, please visit IRCC website Check current IRCC processing times. Select Temporary Residence > Study Permit (from outside Canada) > Choose your country of citizenship or residence.
• If your application has passed the normal processing time listed on the IRCC website, we strongly suggest that you contact IRCC to follow up on the status of your application by submitting an inquiry through the IRCC webform.

It is recommended to apply three to four months before the expiration date of your current study permit.

However, you can still maintain your student status in Canada if you apply anytime before the expiration date. 

If you are applying for a study permit extension to complete your current program, you need a Letter of Enrollment.

If you are applying to extend your study permit to start a new program, you need the Letter of Acceptance for the program you are planning to start.

If you are applying for a study permit extension originally issued for SAIT, there is no need for a PAL; however, you must include a letter of explanation explaining the exception.

PAL is required for students whose study permit was issued for a different learning institution, who either previously transferred to SAIT or are currently transferring to SAIT.

Detailed information on who needs to submit a PAL can be found on the IRCC website.

To avoid processing delay, we suggest submitting an official transcript with your study permit extension application. However, the transcript is not one of the required documents.

If you applied for the extension before the expiration date of your old study permit, you would have maintained status while you wait for a decision on the extension application. While on maintained status, you can continue studying and working as per the conditions of your most recent permit until a decision is made on your study permit extension application.

If you plan on leaving Canada while on maintained status, please review the Government of Canada guidelines on maintained status as a temporary resident and consult with an International Student Advisor prior to planning any travel while on maintained status.

You can maintain your student status only if you stay in Canada while IRCC is processing your study permit extension application.

If you leave before the new study permit is approved, you will lose your maintained status as a student. If you possess a valid TRV or eTA, a CBSA officer will grant you re-entry as a visitor, but you will not be eligible to study or work in Canada until your study permit extension is approved by IRCC.

If the study permit extension application is denied, you must stop studying and follow the instructions of the IRCC officer in the denial letter. In some cases, students have to leave Canada immediately; in others, they can apply to restore their student status. Each case is different.

Please contact an International Student Advisor for assistance immediately, either in person or virtually.

If you are in Canada, we recommend either contacting us in person during drop-in advising hours or scheduling a virtual appointment, as this will allow you to get answers to all your questions in one interaction.

If you need to contact us by email, please use your SAIT email address and attach a copy of your IRCC refusal letter and your most recent study permit.

When starting a second program, the main document required for the study permit extension is the Letter of Acceptance for the new program, along with all the other documents.

A Letter of Enrollment is required only when applying for a study permit extension to continue or complete the current program.

Studying part-time during the academic semester means that you are no longer eligible to work (if you were previously).

Part-time studies in a regular academic term will also negatively affect your eligibility for a post-graduation work permit upon completing your program. If you are considering studying part-time, please visit the International Centre and speak with an international student advisor.

The Canadian government mandates that international students should actively and continuously pursue their studies. A gap in studies (not including your scheduled break) can impact your eligibility to work while studying and your eligibility to apply for a post-graduation work permit.

If you are considering taking a leave from your studies, please review maintaining your student status and scheduled breaks to understand the impact of taking a leave from studies. 

The answer depends on which situation applies to you.

If you applied to extend your study permit before it expires, you now have "maintained status as a student (previously called implied status)." This means that you can continue to live and study in Canada (and continue working as per the conditions of your most recent permit) until a decision is made on your study permit extension application.

If you plan on leaving Canada while on maintained status, please review the Government of Canada guidelines on maintained status as a temporary resident and consult with an International Student Advisor prior to planning any travel while on maintained status.

If you did not apply to extend your study permit before it expires, you are considered to be out of status, and you must stop studying (and working) immediately. You will need to apply to restore your status within 90 days of your status expiring. Please contact an international student advisor as soon as possible to discuss the next steps.

While you wait for a decision on your restoration application, you are not authorized to study or work in Canada.

No. Once you receive your extended study permit, you can apply to renew your TRV.

Your family member’s immigration status won't be extended automatically.

You must submit their applications in order to extend their status in Canada. We highly recommend that you submit their applications along with your study permit application at the same time.

For assistance, you may speak with an international student advisor.

Yes. You can visit a registry office to extend your Alberta Health Care coverage and a Service Canada location to extend your SIN. Coverage duration is tied to the validity of your study permit.

If you lose your study permit (or co-op work permit), you will need to request a replacement from IRCC as soon as possible. To do so, please follow the steps to submit an Application for Replacement of an Immigration Document.

We recommend keeping a photocopy of your immigration documents and passport at all times.

If you are eligible to work under your study permit, and you find your study permit doesn't have the conditions or remarks printed with the wording: "may work" or "may accept employment,” and this was the result of an error made by an IRCC processing officer or the CBSA officer who issued your permit at the port of entry, you can apply to amend your study permit and have the correct work conditions listed on it. There's no cost for this application.

Suppose you weren't previously eligible to work off-campus, but now you have changed to a program that allows you to work off-campus; for example, you completed an English or Upgrading program and are now starting a diploma, degree or certificate program. In that case, you can apply to change the conditions of your study permit. You can apply to change the conditions of your study permit online from within Canada. This process is the same as extending your study permit, costing $150.

Yes. You can visit a registry office to extend your Albert Health Care coverage and a Service Canada location to extend your SIN. Coverage duration is tied to the validity of your study permit.

No, you do not need to take any action on your application. IRCC will withdraw any eligible applications that are currently under process.

Provide your employer with a copy of your valid study permit (which contains on campus work authorization remarks) as proof.

Refer to the response to question 2 above and share this webpage as a resource with your employer. If your employer still has concerns, please send an email to international.advising@sait.ca and copy your employer on this email.

Prior to taking part in a co-op or an internship opportunity, you must obtain a co-op letter from the International Centre.

To request this letter, submit a request using this form.

You must not engage in a co-op or internship opportunity prior to receiving this letter from the International Centre. Any co-op or internship work you engage in prior to receiving this letter will be considered unauthorized work. Engaging in unauthorized work can result in an enforcement action taken against you or the refusal of any future immigration applications.

There is no limit on the number of hours you can work in a co‑op or internship role. If your employer requires you to work more than full‑time hours, they are responsible for ensuring compliance with the employment standards in the province where you are working, including requirements related to overtime pay and mandatory rest periods.

You can apply for a PGWP as soon as you complete your program and receive your completion letter and final official transcript. Both documents are issued by the Office of Registrar.

• Program completion letter (also known as Letter of Completion)- A Letter of Completion will be automatically created for you if you are eligible to receive one.
  • Note: You must apply graduate through mySAIT during the appropriate timeline for your letter to be issued.
• Official Transcript – You can submit an official transcript request once all your final grades are posted.

You are also requested to submit a valid language test result with your PGWP application. This document must be uploaded under the Client Information section under Optional Documents in the IRCC application checklist in the IRCC portal.

No, having a job is not part of the requirements. International students have to meet the eligibility requirements listed on the IRCC website.

Before you receive written notice of program completion from SAIT

If you were eligible to work part-time (up to 24 hours per week) during your final semester, you can continue working part-time until you receive notice of program completion (letter from SAIT.)

Once you receive the notice of program completion from SAIT

You must STOP work as soon as you are issued a Program Completion Letter from SAIT. You may resume full-time work after you submit the PGWP application if you meet all the requirements listed below:

• were eligible to work part-time during your academic semester and didn’t work off campus more than 24 hours during academic semesters
• Hold a valid study permit at the time of applying for your PGWP.

If your PGWP is refused, you must stop working immediately and contact an international student advisor.

You MUST have a valid temporary status as a student or a visitor to apply for a PGWP.

If your study permit expires around the same as your program completion time (for example – if your study permit expires on April 30, 2026 and Winter 2026 is your final term of study), you must apply to extend your study permit so that you still hold a valid permit at the time you will receive your Program Completion Letter from SAIT. This document is required for the PGWP application.

If you have not applied to extend your study permit before the expiration date listed on your permit, you must stop studying and working and apply for a restoration of status.

For assistance with the restoration application, contact an international student advisor to discuss next steps.

No. IRCC allows students to study part-time in their final semester without negatively affecting work eligibility or PGWP eligibility.

More information is available on the IRCC website. 

You can leave Canada and return as long as your visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA) is still valid. Your permit (study or work) is not a visa and doesn’t allow you to travel back to Canada.

Refer to the IRCC Help Centre for detailed information.

No. Once you receive your PGWP, you can then apply to renew your TRV.

You can now order your unofficial transcript through your MySAIT account.

Please check the Quick Reference Guide for easy steps to follow.

Effective June 21, 2024, students can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the Canada-US border.

All eligible graduating students should apply for their PGWP online before their study permit expires.

For more information, visit the IRCC website or email international student advisor for assistance.

Yes, you may request a leave of absence if personal circumstances require you to step away from your program.

A student on a leave of absence who resumes their studies within 150 days from the start of the leave is considered to be actively pursuing their studies during that time.

If the leave exceeds 150 days, you must take steps to remain compliant with your study permit conditions, such as changing your immigration status (to visitor or worker), or leaving Canada.

You must consult an international student advisor before applying for a leave of absence.

If you are academically withdrawn for more than 150 days (i.e. more than 1 term), you are considered to be actively pursuing your studies for the first 150 days.

If you do not resume your studies within 150 days from the start of the leave, you must either change your status (to visitor status or worker) or leave Canada to maintain compliance with study permit conditions.

If you do not change your status or leave Canada, you will be considered non-compliant with your study permit conditions, which will negatively affect your future immigration applications.

If your academic withdrawal lasts more than 150 days, we highly recommend that you meet with an international student advisor as soon as possible to understand how to maintain compliance with your study permit conditions.

An academic withdrawal status results in an 8-month suspension, meaning you are unable to take any credit courses or programs at SAIT for 8 calendar months.

If you would like to change to a new program after the end of the AW period, you may choose to submit an new admission application to your desired program of study. You would be permitted to study in the new program only after the end of your AW period.

If you have received an AW notice from SAIT, we ask that you check your study permit validity.

If you have any questions about the impact of AW on your immigration status, contact an international student advisor.

If you take a leave of absence from your studies or undergo an academic withdrawal, you do not have permission to work in Canada, whether on campus or off campus. This restriction applies for the entire duration of your leave or withdrawal period.

If you have been placed on academic withdrawal or are on an approved Leave of Absence from SAIT for a period of more than 150 days and plan to remain in Canada during that time, you must apply for a visitor record to remain compliant with study permit conditions.

Please see here for more information on visitor records.

*Note that a visitor record and temporary resident visa (TRV) are not the same. A TRV is an entry document (meaning that it may be used to enter or re-enter Canada) but it does not allow you to stay in Canada for a period of time. Documents such as a study permit, visitor record, or work permit are what allow you to remain in Canada for the stated period of time.