The application for your initial study permit must be submitted outside of Canada.
If you are already a visitor or worker in Canada, please contact the International Centre.
Once you have received your confirmation or acceptance letter from SAIT and your Provincial A ttestation Letter (PAL), you can start the application process for your study permit.
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada's latest policy announced in January 2024 may impact current and prospective international students at SAIT in relation to obtaining your study permit, open work permit or post-graduate work permit (PGWP.)
SAIT has partnered with BorderPass to offer all direct international applicants access to its premium Canadian immigration services.
BorderPass offers access to trusted immigration lawyers and legal services via a digital platform.
New applicants who have been accepted and received a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) can use this service to apply for their study permit.
This service is exclusive to applicants who aren’t working with an Agent.
❗️If you are working with an agent, please follow the steps below. If you are using Borderpass, the platform will walk you through the necessary steps.
As a direct confirmed applicant to SAIT - meaning you have received a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) - you will receive additional communication on how to apply for your study permit with BorderPass.
Monitor your email and Virtual Admission System (VAS) account for further related communication and instructions.
You need an IRCC account to apply for your study permit, co-op work permit, Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), Temporary Resident Visa and more.
This video will provide a step-by-step guide on how to create your IRCC account.
If you already have a GCKey account, log in.
The next step of your study permit application is to create your own document checklist.
Watch to learn how to navigate the IRCC online system in two steps to create your personal application checklist.
Ensure you download the latest form directly from the IRCC website for your application.
Do not print and sign the form. You can type your name in the signature and dates on the form. Once you finish entering your information, select "Validate," and the form will generate an additional page with many bar codes if it's validated successfully.
If you want to make changes to the form, remember to validate it and save the form after every edit.
| Questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Unique Client Identifier (UCI) | Type your UCI if known. Otherwise, leave it blank. If this is your first time applying to come to Canada, you will not have a UCI. |
| Personal details: Current country of residence status from (YYYY-MM-DD) to (YYYY-MM-DD) | The country or territory that you live in right now. If you are living in your country of citizenship, choose citizen as the status. |
| Language(s): Have you taken a test from a designated testing agency to assess your proficiency in English or French? | Yes or No. If you have completed an IELTS, TOEFL, CELPIP, or another English/French language test, indicate yes. If you completed an English/French language school program instead of an English/French test, indicate no. |
| Passport: Number and country or territory of issue | This includes the number that appears on your passport issued by your country, and the country of issue is the same as your country of citizenship. For example, if you are a citizen of China, but are getting your passport from the Chinese Consulate in Canada, China is your country of issue. |
| Do you have a national identity document? | Yes or No. If you have been issued a national identity document from your home country, complete the information requested. |
| Contact information: Current mailing address and P.O. box | A P.O. box is Post Office Box. Please leave it blank if you do now have a Post Office Box. |
| Contact information: Residential address, the same as the mailing address? | If your mailing address is where you live, answer Yes. |
| Contact information: Telephone number | Choose cellular as the type. |
| Contact information: Email address | Make sure you check your email regularly, including junk mail. IRCC emails will end in @cic.gc.ca, @canada.ca, or @international.gc.ca. |
| Details of intended study in Canada: Complete address of the school in Canada | SAIT's address is 1301, 16 Avenue NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2M 0L4 |
| Details of intended study in Canada: Designated learning institution number (#) | O18761749692 (this begins with a capital O letter, not a zero) |
| Details of intended study in Canada: Duration of expected study from (YYYY-MM-DD) to (YYYY-MM-DD) | In the "From" field, use the program start date on your Letter of Acceptance. In the "To" field, use the date up to 90 days after your anticipated program completion date. |
| Details of intended study in Canada: The cost of my studies will be (tuition/room and board/other) | The amount for tuition should be referent to your first year of studies only (not for the entire program). For room and board/other, you may estimate your living costs for your first year in Canada. If you do not know yet, you may leave this section blank. |
| Details of intended study in Canada: Funds available for my stay (CAD) | The amount should be a combination of your total available funds and match the proof of funds you provide. You must show you have enough funds to cover your first-year tuition and a minimum of $20,635 for your living expenses. If you are coming with accompanying family members, please check the minimum amount of funds according to the table on the IRCC website. |
| Education: Have you had any post-secondary education (including university, college, or apprenticeship training)? | Answer yes if you are a transfer student or had post-secondary education before. Then enter your previous college or university study information here. Answer no if you are coming to SAIT directly from secondary/high school. |
| Employment: Current activity/occupation and previous activity/occupation | This section provides a clear picture of your past 10 years of activities. For the current activity, use the month and year of your study permit application in the "To" date. Enter "student" as an activity and your school name as the employer if you are a student. Fill out the form in chronological order, with the most recent job first. If you need more space, you can include more information in your Letter of Explanation. Do not list any gap time between your activities/occupations. Include any part-time and full-time jobs as well as any internships or practicums. |
| Background information: Have you remained beyond the validity of your status, attended school without authorization, or worked without authorization in Canada? Have you ever been refused a visa or permit, denied entry, or ordered to leave Canada or any other country? Have you previously applied to enter or remain in Canada? | You must provide honest answers to all the questions. If you have previously applied to come to Canada, as a student, visitor, or worker, you need to disclose this no matter if the result was approved or rejected. Provide dates and details/explanations if you have checked Yes to previously applying to enter or remain in Canada. |
Certain documents will be needed when you apply for your study permit.
If your documents are not in English or French, they should be accompanied by an official translation or a certified copy of the original document in English or French with an affidavit.
The Letter of Acceptance (LoA) is the official registration document issued by SAIT to confirm your registration into a program.
You might receive a conditional Letter of Acceptance if you haven't met the complete admission requirements.
You are encouraged to apply for your study permit when you receive your Letter of Acceptance.
If you are applying with your conditional Letter of Acceptance, please include a section in your letter of explanation as well as other proof documents that show how the conditions have been or will be met. If you are applying from India, Nepal, or Bhutan, you are required to use an unconditional Letter of Acceptance. You can prepare your application while waiting for your unconditional Letter of Acceptance.
If you have applied with a conditional Letter of Acceptance, you are encouraged to update IRCC as soon as you receive your unconditional Letter of Acceptance.
International students applying for a study permit to attend an undergraduate program in Alberta will be required to submit a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) along with the letter of acceptance.
SAIT will request the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) on your behalf. Please contact us at international@sait.ca if you have not received your PAL.
In a study permit application, it is crucial you show strong financial ability to support yourself during your studies and stay in Canada.
Additionally, you must provide evidence to support any accompanying family members while in Canada.
For the Proof of Funds, you should show sufficient funds to cover the remainder of your program. You should add the amount of tuition you are responsible for paying and the amount to cover your living expenses. The total is what you should prepare to have in your proof of funds.
Here are a few documents you can use in your proof of funds:
For more information on Proof of Funds, please refer to the IRCC website.
You will need to scan and upload a copy of your passport on the bio-data page (the page with your photo and all other personal information), as well as any other pages with stamps, visas, or markings from any county.
If you have a new passport, you need to provide copies of both your new and old passports.
Your study permit will not be issued beyond your passport expiry date. Thus, if your passport will be expiring soon, you should extend it first before you apply for the study permit.
Your passport photo should be less than six months old and meet IRCC photo specifications.
A letter of explanation is a self-written document providing additional information to support your application.
We walk you through some general guidelines to write a letter of explanation and what topics to include.
Check your country-specific requirements for your study permit application. To get the complete list of documents required by your country’s visa office:
You are encouraged to include all required documents in your application submission to avoid possible delays or refusal.
If you are applying online through IRCC secure account, any additional documents can be combined and uploaded into the "Client Information" section under Optional Documents in your online checklist.
If you are accepted into a program with co-op/internship/practicum at SAIT, you can choose to apply for your co-op work permit together with your study permit.
Make sure you indicate you are also applying for a co-op work permit when creating your document checklist. You can use your Letter of Acceptance for proof of co-op by highlighting Section 24 Internship/Work Practicum on your LoA.
This form is required if it’s included in your document checklist or your country-specific requirements.
This form needs to be printed out and signed by hand. Please note you might need to sign multiple places on this form:
IRCC might make a minor adjustment to application forms without notice. Please check for instructions for each form and make sure the form is thoroughly completed.
This form is usually included in your checklist's “Optional Documents” section, and most students do not need to include it in the application.
However, if you have answered “Yes” to questions 3, 4, 5, or 6 in the “Background Information” section of the main application form IMM 1294, then you’ll need to include this form in your application.
This form doesn’t need to be signed but needs to be validated.
Once all your documents are ready, you can upload them into your application portal.
We provide some tips and demonstrate the uploading process.
Biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) are collected to confirm your identity and will facilitate your entry to Canada. While exemptions can be granted, most study permit applicants will be required to provide biometrics.
Once you have paid your biometrics collection fee ($85 CAD) and submitted your online application, you will receive a biometric instruction letter in your account. Then go to the nearest biometrics collection center with the letter.
Your biometrics will be valid for 10 years. If you have provided biometrics in a previous application, you don’t need to provide them again. To find out if your biometrics are still valid, you can use the online tool.
You may be required to complete an immigration medical exam if:
If you need a medical exam, you can choose either:
In general, it can save some processing time when you provide an upfront medical exam.
Your medical exam result will be valid for 12 months from the date of the exam and should be valid at the time when you travel. The exam is taken during the initial study permit application period; therefore, if you have been studying outside Canada since recieving your study permit approval, you will need to make sure your results are still valid when traveling to Canada.
You may need a new IME result if you are a continuing student who has left Canada for six months or more in the past year.
Find a panel physician that can conduct your medical exam.
You can check the processing time for a study permit outside Canada on IRCC's website. You will receive emails from your IRCC GCKey account informing you of any updates on your application.
Once the application has been approved, you will be required to submit your passport to the closest VAC centre. Please follow the instructions in the approval letter when you send your passport.
