Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience. Skilled Canadian work experience gained through the PGWPP helps graduates qualify for permanent residence in Canada through the Canadian Experience Class.
Employers seeking to employ open work permit holders are exempt from the requirement to first obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Service Canada. The open work permits issued to the graduates in line with the PGWPP requirements are coded with the LMIA exemption code C43.
A work permit under the PGWPP may be issued for the length of the study program, for a maximum of 3 years. A post-graduation work permit cannot be valid for longer than the student’s study program, which must be a minimum of 8 months in duration
Making an Application
Applicants must apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) within 180 days of obtaining written confirmation, such as an official letter or transcript, from the designated learning institution (DLI) indicating that they have met the requirements for completing their program of study.
Calculation of the 180 days begins the day the student’s final marks are issued or the day formal written notification of program completion is received, whichever comes first. The onus is on the applicant to provide proof of the date the transcript is received. Officers may also confirm this date with the DLI.
Applicants may apply for a PGWP from within Canada if :
- their study permit is still valid
- they have a valid visitor record because they changed their status to visitor status before their study permit expired, while waiting for their notice of graduation from their institution, or simply to remain in Canada. However, they would not be eligible to work while waiting for a decision on their PGWP application as per paragraph R186(w)
- they are on an implied status, meaning they submitted an application to extend or change their status to visitor or student before the expiry date of their study permit and no decision has been made
Applicants whose study permit has become invalid or expires must either :
- leave Canada and apply for a post-graduation work from overseas, or
- apply to restore their status as student by applying for a PGWP with applicable fees as well as paying their fees to restore their status as student
Accelerated Studies
If a student completes their studies in less time than the normal length of the program (that is, they have accelerated their studies), the post-graduation work permit should be assessed on the length of the program of study.
For example, if the student is enrolled in a program of study that is normally 1 year in duration, but the student completes the requirements for the program of study within 8 months, they may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit that is valid for 1 year.
Validity
PGWPP may be valid for up to 3 years. It depends upon the length of the program undertaken by the student which must be confirmed by DLI in official letter or transcript. Regularly scheduled breaks are to be included in the time accumulated towards the length of the work permit. If duration of program of study is at least 8 months but less than 2 years, duration of the work permit will be equivalent to program of study as confirmed by DLI. However, if duration of program of study is 2 years or longer, the duration of the work permit will be 3 years. Regularly scheduled winter and summer breaks are not subtracted from the length of PGWP.
Work authorization after PGWP application submission
Graduates who apply for a work permit, such as a post-graduation work permit before the expiry of their study permit are eligible to work full time without a work permit while waiting for a decision on their application.
Applicants remain eligible to work full time without a work permit while waiting for a decision on their application even after leaving and re-entering Canada.
Though, applicants must stop working as soon as they are notified by IRCC (for example, via their MyAccount, by email or by mailed letter) that their application for a work permit is refused.
Spouses or Common-law partners of PGWP holders
Spouses and common-law partners of post-graduation work permit holders may be eligible to apply for an open work permit under the C41 exemption for (spouses and common-law partners of skilled workers).
