Post-Graduation Work Permit in Canada: One of the mainstays of Canada’s immigration system is the post-graduation work permit (PGWP), which permits foreign students to work in Canada for a maximum of three years after they graduate from Canadian institutions and colleges. Additionally, the post-graduation employment permit facilitates graduates’ transfer to Canadian permanent residence status.
Being an open work permit, the Post-Graduation Work Permit in Canada gives its user the freedom to work for any employer in any part of Canada and to switch jobs whenever they choose.
How to apply for a PGWP is as follows
For whom is a PGWP appropriate?
- You have to be out of Canada or currently have a valid temporary status in order to apply for a post-graduation work permit. You have to be a graduate of a recognized learning institution (DLI) that qualifies. Also, you have to provide concrete proof that you fulfill each of the following requirements:
- You have finished a minimum of eight-month academic, vocational, or professional training program at an approved Canadian institution, culminating in a degree, diploma, or certificate.Throughout each academic term of the program or programs of study they have finished and filed as part of their application for a work visa after graduation, you have remained a full-time student in Canada. Only the following are eligible for an exception: leave from school, the end of the academic year, or COVID-19-related reasons (more on this below).
- The eligible DLI has sent you an official letter and a transcript attesting to your completion of the requirements necessary for your program of study. A post-graduation work permit application must contain the transcript and official letter.
A unique guideline for studying online during the COVID-19 pandemic
You can finish all of your coursework online from overseas during the epidemic and still be qualified for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). A PGWP’s duration is determined by the completion of any studies conducted outside of Canada between the spring of 2020 and August 31, 2022. Even if you’re finishing two study programs, this still holds true. “All international students who are enrolled in a PGWP-eligible program, and meet all other Post-Graduation Work Permit in Canada criteria,” are covered by these relaxed restrictions.
In addition, you have to fulfill one of the following requirements within 180 days after the date on which you applied for the post-graduation work permit:
- You are in possession of a valid study permit,
- you previously held a study permit,
- the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations’ paragraphs 188(1)(a) and (b) permitted you to study in Canada without first obtaining a study permit. This list excludes private staff of diplomats, members of specific foreign armed forces, and indigenous people; however, it does include individuals enrolled in a course or study program that lasts six months or less and will be finished within the time frame permitted for their stay upon entry into Canada.
Canada encourages foreign graduates and students to choose a long-term career here. The post-graduation work permit program enables graduates of participating Canadian post-secondary institutions to obtain worthwhile Canadian work experience in order to support this objective.
Graduates with this experience not only profit professionally, but they can also take advantage of permanent residence immigration schemes like the Canadian Experience Class, which reward work experience in Canada.
Depending on how long the candidate studied in Canada, a post-graduation work permit could be available for up to three years. Furthermore, the post-graduation work visa is an open work permit, meaning that its holder is not limited to any one employer and can work anywhere in Canada. Prior to the worker starting work in Canada, neither the employer nor the applicant must complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
The term “post-graduate work permit” is occasionally used to refer to the post-graduation employment permit.
Eligible Colleges and universities
The following must be the case for the educational establishment: The applicant needs to show proof that the program or programs of study were completed in Canada at one of the authorized Canadian learning institutions (DLIs) listed below.
- a public post-secondary education facility, including a university, CEGEP (in Quebec), trade or technical school, or college; or
- a private post-secondary school in Quebec that is subject to the same laws and regulations as public schools; alternatively
- a private secondary or post-secondary school in Quebec that provides appropriate courses lasting 900 hours or more that can be used to earn an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS) or a diploma of vocational studies (DVS);
- a private, Canadian institution permitted by provincial statute to award degrees, including associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees; however, this authorization only applies to students enrolled in degree-granting programs approved by the province, which may not include all of the private institution’s course offerings.
Applications can be submitted by online or on paper.
Time duration of Post-Graduation Work Permit in Canada
How long the post-graduation work permit is valid for depends on the length of the study program.
| Duration of study program | Duration of work permit |
|---|---|
| Less than 8 months | Ineligible |
| Between 8 and 24 months | Valid for up to the same length as the study program |
| 24 months or longer | Should be 3 years |
| More than 1 program | May be valid for up to 3 years if more than 1 eligible study program is completed |
FAQs
What is the cost of a PGWP?
A PGWP is $155 Canadian. The applicant is required to pay an open work permit charge of $100 CAD in addition to the PGWP fee.
Can spouses obtain a permission to work?
Yes, in the event that the Post-Graduation Work Permit in Canada candidate is employed in Canada, spouses may apply for an open work permit.
How much time does it take to issue a PGWP?
This is dependent upon the applicant’s current location at the time of Post-Graduation Work Permit in Canada application. Processing of PGWP submitted in Canada currently takes four months. The processing office’s processing delays will determine the processing times for applications filed outside of Canada.
Can a PGWP be extended?
A PGWP can only be extended in one method. That is, assuming the applicant’s passport validity was the only limit on the PGWP’s initial length.
How much PGWP is awarded to students?
Even if a student completes more coursework after receiving their first PGWP, they are only ever eligible for one PGWP. This means that if applicants want to continue studying in Canada after they are accepted, they should be aware of PGWP lengths when they apply for study programs.
What effect do expedited studies have on the PGWP’s duration?
In circumstances of accelerated studies, the PGWP will be tested against the length of the program of study not the time taken to complete the studied. For example, if a two-year program was finished in eighteen months, the PGWP will also last two years.
Can employment gained while on a PGWP be applied toward permanent residency?
The majority of the time, work experience gained while on a PGWP can be used to determine an applicant’s eligibility for permanent residency. Actually, a few PNPs target foreign students who are enrolled in Canadian universities.