Post-graduation work permit (PGWP) is an open work visa granted to foreign students who complete a program of study in Canada. Post-graduation work permit holders have the freedom to work wherever they want, for any company, and for whatever many hours they want.
Canada Post-graduation work permit is an excellent method to gain Canadian work experience and it is valid for eight months to three years. Once a candidate has worked in Canada, many pathways for obtaining Canadian permanent residence become available.
You can receive an open work permit and gain significant Canadian job experience by applying for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). The length of your program determines how long the permit will be valid. You do not need to work in a certain industry or have a job offer in order to apply.
Canada Post-graduation work permit is only granted once in a lifetime, so if you intend to continue your education in Canada, you might want to speak with an international learner advisor to choose when to submit your application.
Eligibility criteria for the post-graduation work permit
If you want to get a post-graduation work permit then you have to meet some requirements. Additionally, you need to provide convincing proof that you meet each requirement listed below:
- You must either have a valid temporary status or have left Canada
- In order to be granted a post-graduation work permit, you must have completed a degree program at an authorized learning institution (DLI).
- You must have successfully finished a degree, diploma, or certificate-granting academic, vocational, or professional training program at an accredited Canadian institution that lasted at least 8 months.
- Throughout each academic session of the program or programs of study you have finished and submitted as part of your post-graduation work permit application, you have remained enrolled full-time in Canada.
(Exceptions: a study break, the end of the school year, or COVID-19-related issues)
NOTE: if you have completed all of your coursework online while studying overseas during the pandemic, you still qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
- You must have a transcript and an official letter from the qualified DLI stating that you have satisfied the conditions necessary to finish your program of study. An application for a post-graduation work permit must be submitted with the transcript and official letter.
When to apply and how long does it take to get a post-graduation work permit?
Processing a Canada Post-graduation work permit can take between 80 and 180 days. If you applied before your student permit expired, then you are permitted to work in Canada while you wait for your Canada Post-graduation work permit. After finishing all of your program’s requirements, you have 180 days to apply for your Canada Post-graduation work permit.
You can now apply for a Canada Post-graduation work permit from abroad if you leave Canada after finishing your education. Applications for post-graduation work permits previously had to be made only from within Canada. Depending on the visa office handling the application, further evidence can be needed if a PGWP application is submitted from outside of Canada.
A Canada Post-graduation work permit application can only be made once. You may wish to apply for your PGWP strategically if you intend to continue your studies after completing your first program or if you are thinking about enrolling in a lengthier degree program in Canada. You will receive a PGWP with a longer validity when you apply after the longest duration of the study, up to three years.
How a PGWP can facilitate your Canadian immigration
The Canada Post-Graduation Work Program is intended to offer an effective route for foreign students to qualify for permanent residency in the nation. An applicant is in a strong position to submit an application through the Canadian Express Entry immigration system by connecting Canadian education with significant full-time work experience in the nation. An Express Entry applicant will benefit from extra points towards their comprehensive ranking system (CRS) score if they have Canadian job experience and credentials, making them more competitive with other applicants for obtaining permanent resident status!
Another immigration category that favors applicants with a Canadian educational qualification and work experience is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), or if you studied in Quebec, the Quebec Experience Class program.
Let’s discuss the steps to apply for Canada PR through Post-Graduation Work Program:
Step 1. Apply for a study permit.
You must first complete your coursework and apply for a study visa in Canada. You must enroll yourself in an approved Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in order to submit an application for a study permit in Canada.
Step 2. Work and learn while studying (optional)
The majority of international students studying in Canada like to take advantage of the chance to work while they are enrolled so they can not only obtain job experience but also pay for their daily living costs while they are students. You can apply for internships and work both on and off campus while being a student in Canada. You are then qualified for a Canada Post-Graduate Work Permit!
Step 3. Make the application for Canada Post-Graduate Work Permit
After receiving your degree, you can apply for the Canada Post-Graduate Work Permit to begin obtaining relevant Canadian work experience. Your Post-Graduate Work Permit is determined by the length of your study!
Step 4. Apply for Express Entry (Canadian Experience Class)
You might be qualified for permanent residency once you’ve earned your degree and gained at least a year of work experience in Canada! In this situation, applying through Express Entry for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is typically the best option for graduates. With your CRS score as the basis, you will be entered into an online lottery that will select applicants for Canada PR.
Step 5. Get an ITA and submit a Canada PR application
An ITA (invitation to apply) will be issued to you once your score in an Express Entry draw is the cut-off score or higher, allowing you to apply for Canada permanent residence. Once you will get an ITA then you will have 60 days to submit the main application for permanent residency with the relevant documents.These are the five simple steps to apply for Canada PR through Post-Graduate Work Permit. The Canadian immigration process is a complex and hectic process, to make it smooth and hassle-free you can hire the best Canadian immigration consultants in India
How long does my PGWP remain valid?
The duration of your academic program is the only factor that determines the validity of your Canada post-graduate work permit. Below are some details regarding your validity periods:
- You are ineligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit if your program lasted fewer than 8 months!
- If your course was shorter than two years, but at least eight months long. A Canada post-graduate work permit that lasts as long as your academic program may be granted to you.
For example, your work visa would be valid for 9 months, if you successfully finished a 9-month program.
- Your Post-Graduate Work Permit will be good for up to 3 years if your program lasted two years or longer!
- If you finished multiple programs then all of the courses you’ve taken must be
- Post-Graduate Work Permit eligible
- With a duration of at least 8 months
Frequently asked questions
The duration of a Post-Graduate Work Permit might range from eight months to three years.
No. the length of a PGWP cannot exceed the applicant’s time spent studying in Canada.
You are qualified for a Post-Graduate Work Permit equal to the length of your program of study as long as more than 50% of your program is completed through on-campus instruction.
