International Services

If you are a student who was at a different Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada before starting at Lethbridge Polytechnic (that is, an in-country transfer student), starting November 8, 2024, you are required to submit and be approved for a new study permit BEFORE starting your program at your new Designated Learning Institution. 

For more information on changing DLIs, click here.

For your new study permit application, you will need to: 

• include a letter explaining why you are changing institutions,
• apply for a co-op work permit with your new study permit if your new program has a co-op requirement, and
  • your co-op letter is the last page of your LOA package from Lethbridge Polytechnic
• stay enrolled in your current program at your current institution until your new study permit application is approved. 

If you would like to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) after you complete your new program at Lethbridge Polytechnic, you will need to make sure that you have been admitted to a program that meets the field of study requirement for PGWP eligibility. For a list of Lethbridge Polytechnic programs that are available to international students and their PGWP eligibility, click here. 

If you need to travel outside Canada during your studies, you need to check the validity/expiry date of your travel visa.

Remember that your study permit is NOT a travel visa. A travel visa is separate from a study permit and is required to enter Canada.

If you are from a visa-exempt country (electronic travel authorization/eTA):

Make sure your eTA is valid for the date that you will re-enter Canada. If not, you must apply for a new eTA.

If you are from a visa-required country (temporary resident visa/TRV):

Check to see if your TRV is valid and if it is a single-entry or multiple-entry visa.

If your TRV is single-entry, you will need to apply for a new TRV BEFORE you travel outside Canada.

If your TRV is multiple entry, you will need to check the expiry date of your TRV to make sure it is valid for the date that you will re-enter Canada.

If you need to apply for a new travel visa (eTA or TRV), we strongly recommend that you do not book any travel (such as flights or bus tickets) until you have received approval for a new TRV or eTA.

If you need to correct personal information on your study permit or co-op work permit (or both), you will need to submit a request to IRCC to amend the document(s).

The application form and instructions on how to do so can be found here.

You will need to submit your original study permit/co-op work permit as well as proof that the personal information in your passport/government-issued documents does not match your study permit.

This is a paper application, so you will need to fill out and print the form and send it through mail. The address that you will need to send it to is listed in the link above.

We strongly recommend that you take copies of all of the documents that you submit for your records before you mail your application.

You can apply for your co-op work permit at the same time that you apply for your initial study permit.

However, if you did not apply for a co-op work permit or you changed to a program that has a required co-op placement, you will need to apply for a co-op work permit online through your IRCC account.

You cannot start your co-op placement until you have received a valid co-op work permit. You cannot use your condition to work on- or off-campus on your study permit for your co-op placement.

You can find a detailed instructions guide on how to apply for your co-op work permit here. This guide also includes information on how to answer the questions on the application.

You will need the following documents for your application:

• Your LOA for the program that as a required co-op placement
• your co-op work permit letter (the last page of your LOA package)
  • if you did not receive a co-op work permit letter, contact: international.admissions@lethpolytech.ca
• a photocopy of your passport (pages that show your passport number, issue and expiry date, name, date of birth, and the stamp by IRCC for entry into Canada)
• photocopy of your study permit

NOTE: there is no fee to apply for the co-op work permit.

Your co-op work permit does not allow you to work on- or off-campus. You must have the condition to do so on your study permit.

The work hours during your co-op placement DO NOT count towards hours you are allowed to work off-campus during the school year.

To be able to work as an international student, your study permit MUST have the condition that allows you to accept employment on- or off-campus and you must be registered as a full-time student (minimum nine credits) during regular semesters ( (for Lethbridge Polytechnic: Fall and Winter semesters).

NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (new study permit holders): You CANNOT start to work until you start your program.

International students must have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to be able to work in Canada. For more information on how to apply or renew your SIN, click here.

Working on campus

On-campus employers can be any employer that is physically located on the Lethbridge Polytechnic main campus.

You do not have any work-hour restrictions for your on-campus job(s). These work hours can be in addition to your off-campus work hours.

Working off campus

Starting on November 8, 2024, during regular semesters, international students who are eligible to work off-campus can work up to 24 hours per week. 

Note: International students who begin their program in the Spring semester, who are eligible to work off-campus, can only work up to 24 hours per week during their first Spring semester only. 

During scheduled breaks, international students who are eligible to work off-campus, do not have work-hour restrictions. You must be a full-time student before and after the scheduled breaks to be able to work during the scheduled breaks.

Scheduled breaks for Lethbridge Polytechnic can be found in the Academic Schedule in the current Academic Calendar.

If your study permit doesn't have work conditions

If your study permit does not allow you to work on- or off-campus and you meet eligibility requirements, you can request an amendment to your study permit to have this condition added. 

To be eligible to work on- or off-campus and to be eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), international students must be in full-time studies for all required semesters of their program.

To be considered a full-time student at Lethbridge Polytechnic, students must be enrolled in at least nine credits for both the Fall and Winter semesters. Students starting their programs in the Spring-Short semester must be enrolled in at least 4.5 credits to be considered full-time.

Students in their final semester who need to enroll in classes that are less than nine credits to complete their program may do so in their final semester. Students must pass all classes required to graduate in their final semester to remain eligible for their PGWP.

If you started your program in the Fall:

If you started your program in the Winter:

If you started your program in the Spring:

*Spring-Short (S2) semester is from May to June.

For current international students in Canada, it is recommended that you apply for a study permit extension 2 to 3 months before and NO LATER THAN 30 days before your current study permit expires.

You are responsible for knowing the expiry dates for your:

• study permit
• passport
• Other legal documents (i.e., TRV, eTA)

Family members will also need to check their documents’ expiry dates as their documents may also need an extension.

If your Study Permit is expiring because your passport is expiring, you will need to renew your passport FIRST (may take one to six months or longer). Make sure to check your issuing country for passport renewal processing times. 

How to apply

To submit a study permit extension, you must be physically in Canada.

You can apply for your study permit extension through your IRCC secure account. 

There is a very detailed instructions guide on how to apply for your extension and what required documents are needed on the IRCC website here.

If you will need to extend your co-op work permit, you can apply for your extension at the same time as your study permit extension. You will need your original co-op letter (last page of your LOA package) for your application.

Required documents from Lethbridge Polytechnic:

You will need to request the following documents through Self-Service for your study permit extension:

• Confirmation of Enrolment
• Transcripts (proof of academic standing)

You will also need your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for your current program from Lethbridge Polytechnic.

Study permit extension applications DO NOT require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL).

Proof of funds available/means of support:

As part of your study permit extension application, you must prove that you have enough money in Canadian funds to support your studies and living expenses for the time you are studying in Canada.

IRCC has updated the financial requirements for new study permit study permit applications. This new amount also affects study permit extensions. The cost-of-living financial requirement for 2025 is $22,895 CAD. IRCC will update this amount annually.

If you are applying to extend your study permit for one year, the updated IRCC amount is the required amount that you must show proof of funds for your study permit extension application.

If you are applying for a study permit extension, you must consult both an academic advisor and an international student advisor to ensure that the information on your Confirmation of Enrolment aligns with your academic plan and your anticipated program completion date. “Make sure anticipated program completing date is correct.“

We highly encourage you to attend the Study Permit workshops offered at Lethbridge Polytechnic and to book an appointment with an academic advisor for immigration-related support.

Lethbridge Polytechnic has returned to on-campus delivery. It is expected that international students at Lethbridge Polytechnic are IN Lethbridge and enrolled in on-campus courses.

International students must complete at least 50 per cent of their program on-campus to remain eligible for a PGWP. 

Family members – definition

For IRCC applications, such as a study permit application, a family member is defined as an applicant’s spouse or common-law partner, dependent children and their dependent children[LK1] [CK2] [CK3] [LK4] [CK5] (i.e., a grandchild of the applicant who is under the age of 22).

Parents and siblings of the applicant are not considered family members for applications.

This is in the glossary for IRCC which can be found here.

Spouse or common-law partner

Study permit

If both you and your spouse want to study in Canada at the same time, you can apply for a study permit together. Instructions on how to apply for a study permit can be found here.

Note: Both you and your spouse will each require an attestation letter and a letter of acceptance (LOA) for your study permit applications.

Open work permits 

For information regarding the January 14, 2025 changes to open work permits for family members of temporary residents, you can find updates here. 

Dependent children and their dependent children

Study permit

If you are bringing your children with you to Canada, your children may need a study permit if they are going to attend school while they are here. You can apply for your children’s study permits at the same time as your study permit application.

Information about children’s study permits can be found here.

Oct. 4, 2024: IRCC update to the PGWP Program

On Oct. 4, 2024, IRCC announced new eligibility requirements for the post-graduation work permit. For more information, click here. 

For information on the PGWP program, visit the IRCC website here. 

Eligibility

International students who have successfully completed a program of study that leads to a credential (i.e., a certificate, diploma or degree) at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) that is in an eligible field of study at the time of their study permit application, they may be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Students must also meet the following requirements:

• For Lethbridge Polytechnic students who submit a study permit application on or after November 1, 2024, they must graduate from a program in an eligible field of study
  • for students who submitted a study permit application BEFORE November 1, 2024 do NOT have a field of study requirement
  • for a list of Lethbridge Polytechnic programs that are available to international students and their PGWP eligibility, click here.
• Studied continuously full-time for their entire program
  • final semester can be part-time – student must successfully complete all courses in final semester
  • if you have taken an approved break from studies, you must provide authorization from the polytechnic and supporting documents for your leave of studies
• Meet proof of language ability in either English or French
  • college/polytechnic graduates: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 in English in all 4 language areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking)
  • test results must be less than 2 years old
  • test must be taken in-person
  • Accepted language test results (must show proof for one of the following tests):
    • CELPIP-General
    • IELTS General Training
    • PTE Core
• You have applied for your PGWP within 180 days of program completion.
  • It is recommended that you apply within 90 days of program completion

For more details on PGWP eligibility requirements, click here.

PGWP length

The decision for the length of a PGWP is made by the IRCC officer reviewing your application.

Generally, in accordance with IRCC guidelines, an international student who has graduated from two-year diploma program in an eligible of of study, may be eligible for up to a three-year PGWP. However, the length of a PGWP is up to the discretion of IRCC and may include other factors. For more information on how PGWP length is determined, click here.

Program completion/graduation

Program completion is one of the following, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST:

• The date ALL of your final grades are posted on Self-Service (including your practicum evaluation) OR
• You receive written notification from Lethbridge Polytechnic that states that you have successfully completed your program.

Your program completion date is NOT:

• The last day of classes
• Date of Convocation or graduation ceremony (students are NOT required to attend Convocation)

You MUST STOP working once you have completed your program. You can only resume working in Canada once you have submitted your PGWP application AND you have the condition to work on- and off-campus on your current study permit. You also must have submitted your PGWP application while your current study permit is valid.

Program completion and your study permit expiry date

When you have completed your program, your study permit expires – WHICHEVER COMES FIRST:

• Either 90 days after you have received official written notification of program completion
• Or on the expiry date on your study permit

How and when to apply

You can apply for the PGWP online through your secure IRCC account.

Students have 180 days from program completion to apply for your PGWP. It is recommended that you apply for your PGWP within 90 days of program completion.

Applying in Canada within 90 days of program completion

If you apply for your PGWP within 90 days of your program completion, your study permit will still be valid, and you will be able to resume working full-time once you have submitted your PGWP application.

Applying in Canada 91 to 180 days after program completion

If you apply for your PGWP from 91 to 180 days of program completion, your study permit will no longer be valid and will need to change your status to VISITOR.

You must apply for the following:

• Restoration of Status ($350 application fee)
• Study permit extension ($150 application fee)
• PGWP application ($255 application fee)

You will NOT be able to work in Canada until your ALL three applications have been approved.

Applying outside Canada within 180 days after program completion

If you apply for your PGWP outside of Canada, you have 180 days after program completion to submit your application. You can return to Canada to work ONLY after your PGWP application is approved.

If you are from a visa-required country, a new TRV will be issued along with your PGWP approval so that you are able to re-enter Canada.

Documents from Lethbridge Polytechnic

Before requesting documents, update your personal information in Self-Service, especially:

• Personal email address
• Mailing address – update to the address you want your parchment (certificate, diploma, degree) to be sent to if you will not attend Convocation

Confirmation of Graduation letter

You can request your Confirmation of Graduation letter in the final month of your program by:

1. Download the Confirmation of Graduation form
2. Complete the form and send to registration@lethpolytech.ca.

The letter will be issued to your Lethbridge Polytechnic email address AFTER the graduation process has been completed.

Official transcripts

You can only request your official transcripts AFTER you have received your Confirmation of Graduation.

Once you have received your Confirmation of Graduation, you can request your official transcripts through Self-Service.

• You will need to share the document with yourself (put your personal email address for the Recipient Email)

Once you have submitted your request, you will receive an email with a link to download your official transcripts through MyCreds. You will need to pay for the transcript before you will be able to download your document.

Check that there is a Graduation notation at the end of your transcript BEFORE uploading it to your PGWP application. If the graduation notation is not there, email records@lethpolytech.ca with a copy of your official transcripts AND your proof of Confirmation of Graduation. 

Check to ensure that your primary immigration documents are accurate and valid. This includes your:

• passport
• study permit
• temporary resident visa (TRV)

Keep track of the expiration dates of all of your documents so you can plan to renew them and remain in Canada without interruption. In most cases, your Canadian immigration documents will not be issued past the expiry date of your passport.

If you extend your study permit (or transition from student status to worker status by applying for a post-graduation work permit), you will need to extend all other documents after you receive your new permit.

For information and support regarding your study permit or other immigration-related inquires, please contact one of our international advisors or visit IRCC.