<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-10-17</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001045425</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RAIT Financial Trust</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RAS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001560568</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARS VI Investor I, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RAIT FINANCIAL TRUST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2929 ARCH ST., 17TH FL.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19104</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See remarks below</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of October 1, 2012 among the reporting person, the issuer, and certain subsidiaries of the issuer, the reporting person may designate a trustee on the issuer's board of trustees.  The deputized trustee of the reporting person is Andrew M. Silberstein, who serves on the issuer's board of trustees as the reporting person's representative.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/  Anders F. Laren, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-10-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
