You will need to apply for Canada Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) as an international student in Canada after your studies. This is because completing your studies does not have to mean you have reached the end of your time in Canada.
In fact, studying in Canada can be a fast-track option for gaining permanent residence in Canada. The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) allows students who have graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) to obtain an open work permit to gain valuable Canadian work experience.
Many students use their studies as a stepping stone for temporary work and permanent residency in Canada. Let’s take a closer look at one of the most popular ways to do so, via Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP), read through to see who’s eligible to apply for PGWPP, and how it works.
What is Canada Post-Graduation Work Program?
The Canada Post-Graduation Work Program (PGWP) is designed to help foreign students who have completed a qualification from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI), whether it be a certificate, diploma, or degree, stay and work in Canada.
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International Post-Graduation Work Program or PGWP students in Canada will receive an open work permit. This work permit will allow graduates to work full-time, part-time, or be self-employed for any employer anywhere in Canada.
Post-Graduation Work Permit Eligibility Requirements
To obtain a post-graduation work permit in Canada, the applicant must currently hold valid temporary status or have left Canada. They must have graduated from an eligible designated learning institution (DLI). They must also submit clear evidence that they meet all of the following criteria:
- They are 18 years of age or older at the time of the post-graduation work permit in Canada application.
- They have completed an academic, vocational, or professional training program at an eligible institution in Canada that is at least 8 months in duration leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
- They include one of the following in the work permit application:
- the credential
- an official attestation of program completion
- an official transcript from a Quebec school board or private institution recognized by the MEES in support of the work permit application
- They have maintained full-time student status in Canada during each academic session of the program or programs of study they have completed and submitted as part of their post-graduation work permit application. Exceptions can be made only for the following:
- leave from studies
- final academic session
- They have received a transcript and an official letter from the eligible DLI confirming that they have met the requirements to complete their program of study. Note: The transcript and official letter must be included in a post-graduation work permit application.
Within 180 days of the date of applying for the post-graduation work permit, applicants must also meet one of the following criteria:
- They hold a valid study permit.
- They held a study permit.
- They were authorized to study in Canada without the requirement to obtain a study permit under paragraphs 188(1)(a) and (b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
What is a Designated Learning Institution for PGWP?
A Designated Learning Institution or DLI is a provincial or territorial-approved school that is permitted to host international students in Canada. This includes:
- Public post-secondary institutions eg. colleges, trade or technical schools, universities, or CEGEP (Quebec);
- Private post-secondary institutions in Quebec offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer leading to a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) or an Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS);
- A Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees.
Canada Post-Graduation Work Permit Program Supporting Documents
The Canadian Post-Graduation Work Permit Program applicant is responsible for ensuring that the information provided is accurate.
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Letter confirming completion of the program of study
The letter confirming completion of the program of study is used to assess the requirements referred to above. Officers may request additional documents to complete the assessment of the application.
Transcript
The applicant may provide an official transcript issued by their DLI if available. Alternatively, the applicant may also provide a transcript copy from their DLI’s website. The transcript, along with the letter of completion of studies, is used to assess the requirements referred to above. Officers may request additional documents to complete the assessment of the application.
Determining the Length of Your PGWP
| Determining Your Canada Post-Graduation Work Permit Program Length | |
|---|---|
| Length of Study Program | Length of Work Permit |
| Eight months – two years | Same length as your study program (Master’s and Doctoral candidates may be eligible for a three-year work permit) |
| Two years or longer | Three years |
| More than one program completed within two years | Length of both programs combined (if the combined length is two years or longer the work permit should be valid for three years) |
How to Apply for Canada Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP)
You can apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) from inside Canada or overseas, as long as you’re eligible.
You have up to 180 days to apply for a PGWP after you get your
- degree
- diploma
- transcript, or
- official letter from your school
If your study permit will expire before you get your marks, you have 2 options. You can
- apply for a visitor record to stay in Canada longer, or
- leave Canada and apply for your PGWP
If your study permit expires before you apply
If you don’t change your status to a visitor and your study permit expires, you have up to 90 days after your study permit expires to apply for a Canada Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) and restore your status as a student.
To restore your status as a student, you must
- apply online for your PGWP and pay the correct fee ($255), and
- pay the fee to restore your status as a student ($350)
- Due to system limitations, applicants must pay the fees to restore their status as a student online and attach a copy of the receipt to their PGWP online application. Applicants do not need to make a separate application to restore their status as a student.
You can’t work until your study permit and work permit have been approved.
If you don’t apply for the Canada Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) within the 90 days, or if the 90 days have already passed, you must leave Canada.
