International Student Program Changes
What you need to know
At NAIT, we proudly welcome students from all backgrounds, and international students are a valued part of our community. We understand that changes to Canada's International Student Program made by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may cause uncertainty. We’re here to help you navigate these changes. NAIT continues to closely monitor updates, work with government, and adjust our support services to help meet your needs.
Summary of IRCC Notices
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Effective Date
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IRCC Notice of Change
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Details
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April 1, 2026
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Removal of Co-op Work Permit Requirement
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Students do not need a co-op work permit for student work placements, such as co-ops or internships.
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January 21, 2025
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Spousal Open Work Permit Eligibility Changes - PGWP Applications
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To be eligible to include a spousal open work permit application with a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) application, the international student must be eligible for a PGWP that is at least 16 months long and have a job offer or be employed in:
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November 15, 2024
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Increase in Off-campus Work
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Students who are eligible to work off-campus can work up to 24 hours per week during academic terms, even if their study permit says they’re limited to 20 hours.
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November 8, 2024
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School Name Requirement on Study Permit
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International students must be enrolled in the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) listed on their study permit. This means applicants with a valid study permit for another institution must submit a new study permit application by applying to extend their current one to transfer to NAIT.
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| November 8, 2024 |
End of the Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express |
IRCC ended the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and Nigeria Student Express (NSE) on November 8, 2024. All applications are now processed through the regular study permit stream. |
| November 1, 2024 |
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Eligibility Changes |
IRCC announced changes to PGWP eligibility which impact international students submitting their PGWP application after November 1, 2024.
Learn more below
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| March 19, 2024 |
Spousal Open Work Permit Eligibility Changes - Study Permit Applications |
Only spouses or common-law partners of international students in master’s, doctorate, or professional degree programs can apply for an initial open work permits.
- Since NAIT does not offer these program types, spouses and common-law partners of NAIT students are not eligible for an initial open work permits.
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| January 22, 2024 |
Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) |
Government of Canada announced a cap on international study permit applications. Most NAIT students applying for a new study permit must include a provincial attestation letter (PAL) or their application will be returned, unless you are exempt.
Learn more below
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Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Eligibility Changes
In 2024, IRCC announced changes to PGWP eligibility which impact international students submitting their PGWP application on or after November 1, 2024. In addition to existing eligibility requirements, there are now two additional PGWP requirements:
New language requirement
Graduates of:
- Certificate and diploma programs must submit proof of language ability with their application: a minimum level of CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French is required for all four language areas.
- Degree programs must submit proof of language ability with their application: a minimum level of CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French is required for all four language areas.
Test results must be less than two years old at the time of the PGWP application. View types of accepted language test results.
Eligible field of study requirement
You don’t need to meet the field of study requirement if one of the following applies to you:
- You graduated with a bachelor’s degree.
- You applied for your current study permit before November 1, 2024.
However, if apply for your current study permit after November 1, 2024, and complete a certificate or diploma program, you must graduate in an approved field of study to be eligible for a PGWP. A full list of eligible fields of study is available here.
View official PGWP changes
NAIT continues to review the impact of PGWP changes. In the meantime, we have created the following FAQ to provide you with the information currently available.
Frequently Asked Questions - PGWP changes
Last updated: November 6, 2025
How does the language requirement compare to the English language proficiency (ELP) NAIT requires for admission?
- 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.
If I paid a NAIT tuition deposit for a program that is not on the approved field of study list, can I cancel my admission and receive a refund?
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.
I need to extend my existing study permit beyond Nov. 1, 2024. What does this update mean for me?
IRCC has clarified how applying to extend your study permit may impact your eligibility for a PGWP:
If you apply for a study permit extension on or after November 1, 2024, to complete the same program of study as the study permit application made 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, to complete a different program of study than the study permit application made 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).
If I applied for my existing study permit before November 1, 2024 and will finish my program while it’s valid, what do I need to be eligible for a PGWP?
In addition to meeting IRCC’s existing PGWP eligibility criteria, you’ll now need to pass a language test taken within 2 years of when you submit your PGWP application.
Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
In January 2024, the Government of Canada announced a cap on international study permit applications. Under this cap, most NAIT students requesting a new study permit must include a provincial attestation letter (PAL). Any study permit application submitted without this letter will be returned unprocessed by IRCC, unless you are exempt.
Learn more about announcement
Frequently Asked Questions - PAL information
Last updated: February 4, 2025
Admitted Students
What is a provincial attestation letter (PAL)?
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.
Do I need a PAL?
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 I already have a study permit, do I need a PAL?
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.
I was recently accepted to a NAIT program. When should I apply for my study permit?
If you do not already have a study permit, you will need to:
- Pay your tuition deposit to accept your offer of admission to NAIT.
- 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.
- 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.
How do I get a PAL for my study permit application, and when will it be issued?
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.
Where can I find my PAL?
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.
My PAL has now expired before I could use it for my study permit application. Can I request a new PAL?
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 Future Course/Program I Have Applied To > International Students/Immigration > Provincial Attestation Letter Request
How can I avoid delays with my study permit application?
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.
Applicants/Future Applicants
Can I still apply to NAIT as an international applicant?
Will NAIT continue to process international applications?
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.
The Jan. 22, 2024 IRCC announcement mentions curriculum licensing agreements between public and private institutions. Does NAIT have any programs like this?
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.