Dec 03, 2024
Completing studies in Canada is an exciting milestone for international students, marking the beginning of their professional journey. With global companies like Google, Amazon, and Shopify having a strong presence in the country, graduates have access to a range of job opportunities. However, once their student visa expires after graduation, how can they remain in the country and explore opportunities with these top organizations?
The answer to this is the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which allows graduates to stay in Canada and gain valuable work experience. But how this permit can help students transition from studying in Canada to working in the job market. What would be the duration, eligibility criteria, application process for the PGWP for international students in Canada?
We’ve covered all these required details in this article. So, let’s get started.
Table of Content
A PGWP issued by the Canadian government allows international graduates from designated learning institutions to stay back and gain work experience in Canada after graduation. This experience can be beneficial for their career prospects and potentially pave the way for permanent residency.
Now, let us see who can benefit from this opportunity.
International students in Canada can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after completing certain study programs. This includes those who get a diploma or graduate with a bachelor’s, master’s or a doctoral degree from a university. Graduates from college programs or other non-university programs can also apply for a PGWP.
Those who fall into these categories can extend their stay in Canada after completing their studies. Going further, we’ll check the duration for the PGWP based on various criteria.
The eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) depend on the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) from which a student graduates.
Here’s a closer look.
Students graduating with a diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a university, must meet the following requirements:
Students graduating with a diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college must meet the following requirements:
For college graduates, there is an additional requirement based on their area of study. They are only eligible for a PGWP in Canada if their program falls within the following five disciplines:
It is important to note that this is just a general overview of the required fields. For specific details about a chosen program, it is recommended to visit the official website of Canada Immigration Services.
Next, we will understand the steps to apply online for a PGWP in Canada.
Here’s an outline of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) duration in Canada based on the level of study and the course duration.
| Level of Study | Course Duration | PGWP Length |
Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral Programs |
8 months or above |
3 Years
|
PG or UG Diploma | 1 Year | 1 Year |
| 2 Years and more | 3 Years |
As we see, whether international students pursue Masters in Canada, Bachelor's, or any other qualification, the length of the PGWP varies based on the program duration. However, to get the PGWP it’s essential to ensure that all the eligibility requirements are met for a successful application. So, here’s a brief overview of what the criteria can be.
Students can apply for a PGWP online before their current study permit expires. They have up to 180 days after graduation to submit their application. However, one must apply well in advance to avoid any delays.
This section outlines the general steps involved in applying for a PGWP.
To apply online, students must create electronic copies of their documents and have a valid credit or debit card for the payment process.
Students should read the applicable guide based on their situation. Different guides are available on the Canada Immigration website, tailored to specific requirements.
Before uploading the forms, students need to answer a series of questions. Canada Immigration uses its responses to generate a personalized document checklist.
Students must pay the Open Work Permit Fee, Work Permit Fee, Biometric Fees and other fees as specified on the website.
Students must create an account to apply online. The account allows them to:
Moving on, there are certain scenarios where graduates may encounter challenges during their PGWP application. However, there is an alternative solution for each situation, which we will discuss next.
Below are some exceptional circumstances faced by international students guidelines to overcome these challenges.
If international students’ study permit expires and they haven’t changed their status to the visitor, they have up to 90 days to apply for a PGWP and restore their student status.
To do this, they must apply for the PGWP online and pay $229 to restore their status (increasing Dec 1, 2024) and $155 to process their work permit. The application has to include a copy of the receipt. Students can only work once both permits are approved.
A PGWP can only be extended if the passport expires before the length of the time students’ are eligible for the PGWP. In such cases the PGWP will be issued only until the passport expires. This is mentioned as a note on the initial PGWP which is issued to the international students. So, students need to keep track of the passport expiry date to avoid such situations.
International students may also need to change the conditions on their PGWP if they need to provide an additional document, for instance a medical exam after the earlier application.
What comes next after a successful application? Let’s get into that.
While waiting for the PGWP application to be processed, international students who have graduated can continue working full-time on their work permit application if they meet the following conditions.
If these conditions don’t apply to them, they will need to wait for their work permit to arrive before starting their new job. It’s essential to keep in mind that working in Canada without proper authorization is against the law.
By staying informed about the latest Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) updates, international students can smoothly transition from education to professional life in Canada. Whether pursuing a BEng, BBA, MEng, MBA in Canada or any other high-demand degree, staying updated with ongoing changes is important.
At KC Overseas Education, our Canada Experts provide all these essential inputs and do the complete handholding for those who aim to study in Canada. If you're looking for guidance or have questions, we invite you to visit your nearest KC branch or book a free online consultation with us today!