WHAT IS A POST-GRADUATE WORK PERMIT?

The Post-Graduation Work Permit comes just like its name says; after you graduated, it will allow you to work full-time for the same period of the duration for your studies. For example, if you studied a post-graduate certificate, which is a one-year program, you will get a post-graduate work permit for one year. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR A POST-GRADUATE WORK PERMIT?

Students who have graduated from eligible Canadian post-secondary institutions can apply for a work permit if they meet the following requirements:

1. You must have completed a study program at a designated learning institution that was at least eight months long. That led to a degree, diploma, or certificate.

2. You must have maintained full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of your study program.

WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR A POST-GRADUATE WORK PERMIT?

You aren’t eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit if you already received a Post-Graduation Work Permit. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

• Those students who studied English or French as a second language,

• Those who  took a general interest, self-improvement courses, or participated in the Government of Canada Awards Program funded by Global Affairs Canada

• If you got the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, Canada-Chile

• If you participated in the Canada-China Scholars’ Exchanges program or the Organization of American States Fellowships Program

• If you completed the majority of a study program by distance learning (online courses, e-learning or correspondence)

• If you  studied program at a non-Canadian institution located in Canada

WHEN TO APPLY FOR YOUR PGWP?

Once your classes are over, you will receive your transcripts and a letter. You have 180 days after your school issues your final marks to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit. 

You don’t have to wait until you physically receive your diploma or attend your graduation ceremony to apply for a post-graduation work permit, all you need to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit is an official letter from your school that confirms you’ve completed your study program, and an official transcript, or a copy of your transcript from your school’s website.

Check your study permit; you will see that the Immigration Officer usually gives you three more months of study permit after your graduation date. They did not make a mistake. That is typically the time it will take for your PGWP to be processed. 

You want to check this in advance, depending on your circumstances. Once you get your PGWP and start working full-time, your experience starts counting for immigration purposes.

Many students consider the idea of being able to stay in Canada and make this country their home, especially once they start working. You have an excellent opportunity to be eligible to apply for Permanent Residence.  We suggest you get an assessment and get to know your opportunities ahead of time, preferably when you start your last semester; this makes a massive difference for you to begin to get ready for what comes next. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY PASSPORT IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE AND I NEED TO APPLY FOR MY PGWP?

Make sure your passport is valid for the entire length of time you should be eligible for. If your passport expires earlier, make sure you ask your Consulate or Embassy in Canada how to renew your passport. You are usually allowed to do so six months before your current passport expires. 

Your PGWP will only be valid until your passport expires, so if you have a few more months, then that will be the length. However, there is a chance of extending it when you get your new passport. You sure want to avoid this as much as you can as it is up to the immigration officer whether they want to extend to give you the full validity. 

HOW CAN I SHOW AN EMPLOYER I’M ALLOWED TO WORK WHILE WAITING FOR MY PGWP?

Yes, you are allowed to work while waiting for your PGWP. We encourage you to do so as you want to start getting Canadian experience for your Permanent Residence Application. Still, most of all, you do not want to miss a job opportunity. 

You can show your employer the following documents to provide proof that you can work:

1. The official letter from your school that confirms you’ve completed your study program or

2. an official transcript or a copy of your transcript from your school’s website

3. A copy of your study permit- To be allowed to work right away, your permit should say: “May accept employment on or off-campus if meeting eligibility criteria per paragraph R186(f), (v) or (w); must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria”

4. A copy of the acknowledgement of receipt from your post-graduation work permit (PGWP) application if you applied online. To be allowed to work right away, the confirmation of receipt must have been received before your study permit expired

If you are already a student in Canada, make sure you get to know your opportunities ahead of time. Planning always helps to understand better how the processing of applications takes place and also to avoid any mistakes that could jeopardize your stay in Canada. You already made a significant investment in studying, so why not make the most out of it? if you have questions do not hesitate to Contact us to evaluate your opportunities to stay in Canada and become a permanent resident, you have questions we have answers.