Post-Graduation Work Permit – work options for foreign students

International students who complete their graduation from a Canadian study program obtain a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

A Post-Graduation Work Permit is a form of Open Work Permit offered to international students who complete graduation from a Canadian study program. These Post-Graduation Work Permits enable the holder to obtain work experience under any Canadian employer. The number of hours they work would be limitless and the location could be anywhere within Canada.  

The validity of a PGWP will vary from eight months to three years. Moreover, a Post-Graduation Work Permit will prove to be an excellent way to acquire Canadian work experience. Once a candidate attains work experience in this country, he or she will have access to a wide range of options to gain Canadian Permanent residence.  

A Post-Graduation Work Permit and its significance  

A PGWP exists for international students who completed their graduation from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution. These Open Work Permits authorize foreign nationals to work under any Canadian employer, anywhere in this country.  

Notably, all study programs in Canada will not hold eligibility for a Post-Graduation Work Permit. Therefore, it is vital to assess first whether you are eligible for a PGWP before selecting the program.  

A majority of Canadian work permits demand an LMIA. However, PGWP doesn’t need you to complete the LMIA procedure. PGWPs help qualified graduates achieve considerable work experience in Canada. This sufficient work experience also allows them to qualify for Canadian Permanent Residency programs.

These also include any one of the below pathways: 

  • Canadian Experience Class 
  • The Federal Skilled Trades Program 
  • Provincial Nominee Programs 
  • Federal Skilled Worker Program 
  • Quebec Immigration Programs  

PGWP – important facts to know  

  • A Post-Graduation Work Permit will hold its validity for a period between eight months to three years.  
  • A PGWP’s duration will be the same as the applicant’s study program duration in Canada. This will be up to three years at the maximum. 
  • Over 50 percent of your study program must be attended in person to make you eligible for PGWP with an equal duration of your study program.  
  • Whether you pursue part-time studies or accelerated studies, the PGWP length will be equal to your study program’s length. However, you will complete your full-time studies. 

Eligibility for a Post-Graduation Work Permit  

To gain eligibility for a PGWP, a foreign national must reach the age of 18 years. They must have acquired full-time Canadian studies in a study program in Canada. The duration of which must be at least eight months. It is essential to complete their education at a Canadian Designated Learning Institution in one of the study programs. Additionally, to apply for a work permit, a foreign national must proceed with the application within 180 days of completing the study program. Supposedly, if an applicant applies for a permit from inside Canada, they must possess a valid status while applying.  

In another situation, their work permit might soon expire or must have already expired. In such a case, they must proceed to apply for visitor status before applying directly for PGWP. However, applicants who seek to apply for a PGWP before their study permit expires have permission to work full-time, while the processing of their application continues.  

Applicants will require to apply for a PGWP from abroad.  

What are the eligible study levels? 

The following study programs and levels qualify for a PGWP: 

  • A public post-secondary institution in Quebec, such as a university, college, trade school, or CEGEP;  
  • A private post-secondary institution that follows the same policies as public schools (only applies to certain institutions in Quebec);  
  • Quebec’s private secondary or post-secondary institution offers qualifying programs that last 900 hours or more and leads to a diploma in professional studies (DEP) or an attestation of specialization in practice (ASP); or 
  • Private Canadian institution that is permitted by provincial legislation to provide degrees solely to students enrolled in degree-granting academic programs. 

What is the standard timeframe for obtaining a PGWP? 

Processing a PGWP might take between 80 and 180 days. If you applied before your student permit expired, you have permission to work in Canada while you wait for your PGWP.   

After completing all of your program’s prerequisites, you get 180 days to move forward with your PGWP application.  

You have the chance to apply for a PGWP from abroad if you depart from Canada after finishing your education. Post-graduation work permit application submission previously had to be done only from within Canada. However, depending on the visa office handling the application, further evidence might be vital. This is true if a PGWP application is submitted from outside of Canada. 

What is the possibility of applying for a work permit after obtaining the Post-Graduation Work Permit? 

Nothing about a PGWP prohibits you from later submitting an application for another work permit. You are free to apply for both an LMIA and an LMIA-exempt permit if you are qualified. But given that you have prior Canadian work experience, it could be worthwhile to think about applying for Canadian permanent residence.  

Candidates with Canadian job experience have choices under the following immigration programs: 

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program 
  • Quebec Immigration Options  
  • Provincial Nominee Programs  
  • Canadian Experience Class  

Conclusion  

If you continually studied full-time in Canada, with the exception of part-time registration in your final term, and you meet the other qualifying requirements, you may be able to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) after receiving your degree. One of the requirements for applying does not require a job offer. 

Most of the time, overseas graduates can start working full-time till their permission is issued after filing for PGWP and receiving confirmation from IRCC that they received the application. Most of the time, overseas graduates can start working full-time till their permission is issued after filing for PGWP and receiving confirmation from IRCC that their application was received. 

Processing times for postgraduate work permits typically range from 60 to 120 days. However, the processing time for PGWP is likely to be 30 days in 2023, nonetheless, based on IRCC revisions.