One of the key advantages of studying in Canada is that at the end of your studies, you will become eligible to apply for a work permit called Post-graduation Work Permit also known as PGWP. This guide will help you understand the process of obtaining a work permit in Canada through the PGWP pathway.
Unlock limitless opportunities in Canada with a Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP) – discover how to apply.
The Ultimate Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Checklist
Maximize your job prospects in Canada with a Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP) – work for any employer, anywhere in the country for up to 3 years. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can issue eligible applicants PGWP with a validity of anywhere between 8 months to 3 years. Acquire valuable Canadian work experience with a Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP) – opening doors to permanent residence in the country.
What is a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)?
According to IRCC, a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) allows international students who have completed their studies in Canada to work anywhere they choose in Canada and for any employer and unrestricted or unlimited hours. This is why obtaining a Canada study permit is highly sought after because of the PGWP opportunity it gives at the end of your studies in Canada.
Duration of PGWP
According to Canadim and based on IRCC’s guidelines, it is important to note that the validity (that is, the duration of the PGWP) of a post-graduation work permit typically matches the length of your studies in Canada. For example, if you study in Canada for a duration of 12 months, you will get a post-graduation work permit that is valid for 12 months.
A post-graduation work permit cannot be issued for a period longer than the duration of your study in Canada. The minimum length of studies for which a post-graduation work permit can be issued is 8 months. If the duration of your studies is less than 8 months, you will not be eligible to receive a post-graduation work permit.
Note: It is advisable to go for studies that have at least 12 months duration compared to an 8-month duration; the reason is that if you get an 8-month post-graduation work permit, it means you can only work for 8 months. If you want to apply for Express Entry under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), you need to have at least 12 months of work experience. So, going for an 8-month study is not the best especially if you want to apply for Canada permanent residence through the Express Entry pathway after your studies.
This next point is very crucial – in order to be eligible for a post-graduation work permit, you must have:
1. Completed studies at a designated learning institution (DLI)
2. The program (that is the course you studied) at the designated learning institution must be eligible for a post-graduation work permit.
In other words, not all programs of study at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada will make you eligible for a post-graduation work permit so you have to ensure that
- The institution is a designated learning institution, according to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, a designated learning institution means an institution is authorized to admit international students, and
- Your program in that designated learning institution is eligible for a post-graduation work permit.
Note: While all designated learning institutions can admit international students, not all designated learning institutions or programs offered at a designated learning institution are eligible for a post-graduation work permit. So, if you attend a program at a designated learning institution that is not post-graduation work permit eligible, you will not be able to apply for a post-graduation work permit after your studies.
Applicants can only apply for and receive a post-graduation work permit once. You cannot receive a post-graduation work permit, utilize it and then go back to study in Canada and apply for another post-graduation work permit – no, this is not allowed.
You can study in Canada as many times as you want, but you can only apply for a post-graduation work permit only once.
How to Find All Designated Learning Institutions in Canada (PGWP Programs)
The list of all designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada can be found on IRCC’s website. When you get to the page, select the province in Canada in which the school is located and you will see the list of all DLIs in that province in alphabetical order.
All DLIs have a DLI Number (it is alphanumeric) and it begins with the letter O. You will also see a heading: “Offers PGWP-Eligible Programs”; if the answer is “Yes” beside the DLI, that means they offer PGWP eligible program; if the answer is “No”, it means this designated learning institution does not offer PGWP eligible programs.
In some cases, you will find that a school is a designated learning institution but only some of its programs of study are PGWP eligible, and not all programs.
So you have to be careful when you select a program of study in Canada.
Note: all elementary (primary) and high schools (secondary) in Canada are by default designated learning institutions and are therefore not included in the list of DLIs in Canada.
Who is Eligible for a PGWP?
Based on the criteria stipulated by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, in order for you to be eligible to apply for a post-graduation work permit in Canada after completing your studies, the following must be met:
- Applicants must have a valid temporary status in Canada – this essentially means you must not be out of status. If your temporary status is about to expire, it is best to leave Canada, you can apply for a post-graduation work permit from outside Canada. But after your PGWP has been issued you need a TRV (temporary residence visa) to travel to Canada because a post-graduation work permit is not a travel document. As much as you can try and apply without leaving Canada, it would save you a whole lot of stress.
- Applicants for a post-graduation work permit must have graduated from a designated learning institution.
- Applicants of a post-graduation work permit must have completed a program that is post-graduation work permit eligible.
- The applicants must have completed studies for a program with a duration of at least 8 months
- You must have maintained full-time studies at the program/institution.
- You must provide evidence of completion of your studies which are an academic transcript, your degree or diploma certificate, and a letter from the designated learning institution articulating that you have met the requirements for the completion of the program. To apply for a PGWP, you need to have at least one of these documents.
- You must apply within 180 days after the completion of your studies and your study permit must have been valid at some point within the 180 days.
Which Levels of Study are Eligible for Post-graduation Work Permit?
The eligible levels of study for PGWP are public post-secondary institutions such as colleges, trade/technical schools, or universities; private post-secondary institutions that operate under the same rules as public schools in Quebec; private secondary or post-secondary institutions in Quebec that offer qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer leading to a DEP or ASP; and Canadian private schools that are legally authorized to award degrees under provincial law for study programs leading to a degree.
How to Apply for a PGWP?
According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, you can apply for a post-graduation work permit both from inside and outside of Canada. Generally, you apply online for a post-graduation work permit. You can also apply it on paper.
As earlier mentioned above, you need to have at least one of the following documents ready: a transcript, degree or diploma certificate, and a letter articulating completion of studies from the designated learning institution.
Additional documentation may be required for PGWP applications submitted from outside of Canada, as determined by the visa office responsible for processing the application.
Post Graduate Work Permit Processing Time?
The processing of your post-graduation work permit depends on whether you apply on paper or online. IRCC guidelines on processing times for PGWP are that online post-graduate work permit (PGWP ) applications are estimated to take about 167 days to process, while paper applications are estimated to take around 60 days. This processing timeline could change depending on the volume of applications.
Can I Apply for a Work Permit after my PGWP?
Yes, you can apply for either an LMIA work permit or an LMIA-exempt work permit if you choose to; but the wiser option would be to apply for Canada PR under any of these 3 programs (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program) you are eligible for under Canada Express Entry System. You can also explore Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) pathway to PR because these PNPs usually have special programs for international students in the respective provinces.
Can I Work After Graduation before I Apply for my PGWP?
International graduates who submit their PGWP application before their study permit expires can start working legally in Canada. Applicants under this category do not need a work permit in Canada to work while they await the decision of their post-graduation work permit.
If your study permit expires before you apply for PGWP, you are allowed to apply for restoration of status and then apply for a post-graduation work permit as long as your study permit did not expire for more than 90 days.
How Many Times Can You Apply for a PGWP?
You can only apply for a post-graduation work permit once, so you have to be tactical before you apply, especially if you plan on studying more than one program in Canada.
If you plan on continuing your education with a program that builds on your previous studies or pursuing a longer degree program in Canada, it may be beneficial to apply for your PGWP wisely.
By applying for your PGWP after completing the longest program of study, you will be granted a PGWP with a longer validity period, up to a maximum of three years.
How a PGWP Can Help You Immigrate to Canada?
A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) can help you immigrate to Canada by allowing you to gain work experience in Canada after completing your studies. A post-graduation work permit is a document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that allows international students who have graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada to work in Canada for a certain period of time.
The length of the permit depends on the length of the study program. With a valid PGWP, you can gain valuable work experience and potentially qualify for permanent residence through programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
You can also tap into the international graduate schemes to Canada PR under the various PNPs in Canada.
Let Canadex Help Apply for PGWP
Click here for a FREE ASSESSMENT.