Post Graduate Work Permit

The Post Graduate Work Permit allows individuals to work temporarily in Canada after graduating from certain programs at a designated learning institute (DLI). To ensure your program is eligible for PGWP, check the following list: Designated learning institutions list – Canada.ca

The length of time that your PGWP is valid for relies on the length of time of the program(s) you have graduated from.

Less than 8 months

• Not eligible for PGWP.

8-24 months 

• You may receive a PGWP that’s valid for up to the same length as your study program. For example, if you completed a 1-year program, you may receive a work permit for up to 1 year.

Longer than 24 months 

• You may receive a PGWP valid for 3 years.

If more than 1 program was completed (each program being PGWP eligible and at least 8 months in length)

• You may be able to get a PGWP that combines the length of each program.

Eligibility

Apply from Inside Canada

You can apply for a PGWP up until 180 days after you graduate. When applying, you must submit any of the following:

• your degree or diploma
• your transcript or
• an official letter from your school

These documents confirm the name and length of your program and prove that you attended and completed your program.

To be eligible, your study permit must have been valid at some point during these 180 days.

You can apply for a PGWP if

• your study permit has been valid within the last 180 days
• you have a valid visitor record
• you submitted an application to extend your study permit before it expired and no decision has been made on your application
• you submitted an application to change your status to visitor before your study permit expired and no decision has been made on your application

You must also have:

• Completed a study program 
• at a designated learning institution
• at least 8 months long 
• Received a degree from the program
• Maintained full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of your study program 
  • (final semester being part-time or approved leave from studies are exceptions. You may still be eligible for a PGWP if you switched to part-time or full leave of studies between March 2020 and the fall semester in 2020 due to COVID-19, you may still be eligible for a PGWP.)

 

Graduated from one of the following:

• a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, trade/technical institution, university or CEGEP (in Quebec)
• a private post-secondary institution in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public institutions in Quebec
• a private or public secondary or post-secondary institution (in Quebec) that offers qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer, that leads to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS), or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS);
• An AVS can be less than 900 hours if combined with a DVS.
• a Canadian private institution that is authorized to award degrees under provincial law (for example, an Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree), but only if you’re enrolled in a study program that leads to a degree as authorized by the province, which may not include all programs of study offered by the private institution.
• If you want to work in a field that requires a medical exam, you must get an upfront medical exam (no more than 90 days before you apply). 

You aren’t eligible for a PGWP if you:

• have a study permit that expired more than 180 days before you applied
• already received a PGWP
• studied English or French as a second language
• took general interest or self-improvement courses
• participated in the Government of Canada Awards Program funded by Global Affairs Canada
• had received funding from Global Affairs Canada (If you got a Study in Canada scholarship, you’re still eligible for a PGWP.)
• got the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, Canada-Chile
• participated in the Canada-China Scholars’ Exchanges Program
• participated in the Organization of American States Fellowships Program
• completed the major part of a study program through distance learning (online courses, e-learning or correspondence)
• completed a study program at a non-Canadian institution located in Canada
• completed a program from a private institution in 1 province or territory that was delivered through a curriculum licensing agreement with a PGWP-eligible public institution located in a different province or territory.

Apply from Outside Canada

You can apply for a PGWP from outside Canada as long as you’re eligible and you’ve been approved for a study permit. You don’t have to have held a valid study permit at any point during your online studies from outside Canada.

You can apply for a PGWP up until 180 days after you graduate. When applying, you must submit any of the following:

• your degree or diploma
• your transcript or
• an official letter from your school

These documents confirm the name and length of your program, and prove that you attended and completed your program.

You can apply for a PGWP if you

• were enrolled in a program that was in progress in March 2020 or
• started or will start a program between spring 2020 and summer 2022 and
• you have a study permit or
• you’ve been approved for a study permit or
• you applied for a study permit before starting your study program
• Your study permit must eventually be approved.

 

You must also have:

• Completed a study program 
• at a designated learning institution
• at least 8 months long 
• Received a degree, diploma or certificate from the program
• Maintained full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of your study program 
  • (final semester being part-time or approved leave from studies are exceptions. You may still be eligible for a PGWP if you switched to part-time or full leave of studies between March 2020 and the fall semester in 2020 due to COVID-19, you may still be eligible for a PGWP.)

 

Graduated from one of the following:

• a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, trade/technical institution, university or CEGEP (in Quebec)
• a private post-secondary institution in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public institutions in Quebec
• a private or public secondary or post-secondary institution (in Quebec) that offers qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer, that leads to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS), or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS);
• An AVS can be less than 900 hours if combined with a DVS.
• a Canadian private institution that is authorized to award degrees under provincial law (for example, an Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree), but only if you’re enrolled in a study program that leads to a degree as authorized by the province, which may not include all programs of study offered by the private institution.
• If you want to work in a field that requires a medical exam, you must get an upfront medical exam (no more than 90 days before you apply). 

 

You aren’t eligible for a PGWP if you:

• only received first stage approval, and don’t have a final decision on your application
• You must have a port of entry letter of introduction that shows you’ve been approved for a study permit.
• already received a PGWP
• studied English or French as a second language
• took general interest or self-improvement courses
• participated in the Government of Canada Awards Program funded by Global Affairs Canada
• had received funding from Global Affairs Canada (If you got a Study in Canada scholarship, you’re still eligible for a PGWP.)
• got the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, Canada-Chile
• participated in the Canada-China Scholars’ Exchanges Program
• participated in the Organization of American States Fellowships Program
• completed the major part of a study program through distance learning (online courses, e-learning or correspondence)
• completed a study program at a non-Canadian institution located in Canada
• completed a program from a private institution in 1 province or territory that was delivered through a curriculum licensing agreement with a PGWP-eligible public institution located in a different province or territory.

 

Futurix consultants are always available to help with your Post Graduate Work Permit application ensuring it is processed quickly and efficiently.