Post-Graduation Work Permit: PGWP Canada Eligibility, Duration, Processing Time

Post-graduation work permit Canada (PGWP in Canada) allows international students graduating from Canadian institutions to gain valuable work experience in the country. With this permit, international graduates in Canada can seek full-time employment at any firm/organization across the country. As per surveys, with the rising number of job vacancies in Canada, PGWP might also help you to become a permanent resident of Canada.

A post-graduation work permit is only valid for the duration of the student's study program. To obtain a postgraduate work permit in Canada, the course must last at least eight months. In Canada, the maximum length of the PGWP is three years. Post Graduation Work Permits in Canada are only issued to students who have completed studies at a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI).

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Who is eligible for PGWP in Canada?

The very basic eligibility requirement for PGWP in Canada is that a candidate is 18 years of age or above. Along with that, the program you are pursuing should be of at least 8 months, allowing you to spend significant time in the Canada. It could be a PG diploma, certificate, degree, or professional course; there are not specifications for that.

Eligible Criteria for PGWP in Canada

International students living in Canada are eligible for PGWP Canada, only if:

• Your in-person classes were changed to online mode
• Your program has in-person and online modes, both

International students who are outside Canada are eligible for PGWP in Canada, only if:

• Within 180 days of finishing their program, graduates apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP in Canada). They must include their college degree/ diploma/ transcript/ official letter in their application.
• Applicant must have been enrolled in a program that was in session in March 2020, or that starts or will start between spring 2020 and summer 2022.
• The institute chosen by the applicant must be a designated learning institution (DLI)
• Applicant must be enrolled in a full time program that lasts for at least 8 months and must result in a degree/diploma/certificate.

What documents are required to gain PGWP in Canada?

Documents required by international students to receive a post-graduation work permit are:

• A formal letter from the educational institution outlining the course or program's tenure, program code, and type.
• A degree certificate demonstrating successful program completion.
• An official transcript from a private institution.

How long does it take to get PGWP in Canada?

Processing a PGWP in Canada can take between 80 and 180 days. If you applied before your student permit expired, you are permitted to work in Canada while you wait for your PGWP. After finishing all of your program's requirements, you have 180 days to apply for your PGWP.

After completing your education, you can now apply for a PGWP from abroad or your home country if you decide to leave Canada. If a PGWP in Canada application is submitted from outside of Canada, the visa office that will process the application may seek extra documentation.

How long is PGWP in Canada is valid?

The work permit under PGWP is approved for the length of your study program. Depending on your course duration in Canada, your post-graduation work permit validity is between 8 month to 3 years maximum. Please note: Your passport validity for this duration is highly important.

Facts:

• If program duration is less than 8 months- You aren’t eligible for a PGWP.
• If program duration is 8+ months, but less than 2 years- You may get a PGWP that’s valid for up to the same length as your study program.
• If program duration is 2 years or more- You may get a PGWP that’s valid for 3 years.

Special cases to attain a post-graduation work permit:

• Accelerated programs: Non-Canadian students can apply for a post-graduate work permit when completing their studies in less time than the normal duration. They will receive the PGWP for the entire duration of their program, even if it is shorter than usual.
• Distance learning: Students can earn a PGWP in Canada if they participate in distance learning for 50% of the course. The PGWP will offer both distance learning and full-time courses. That means if students study one year of distance learning and one year of full-time study, they will have a total PGWP of two years.
• Flight school: A candidate for a flight school should have their Canadian pilot's licence and have finished their flight training at a DLI training facility.
• Overseas components: Students studying at Canadian universities may be eligible for PGWP if they are studying abroad and earn credit from Canadian universities.
• Transfers between educational institutions: If applicants have been transferred between schools, they must address the following scenarios:
  • Students can apply for a post-graduation work permit in Canada if they have been transferred between DLI and have completed at least 8 months of a full-time course.
  • Only the tenure of the DLI course or specialization will be counted when students transfer from a non-designated learning institute to a designated learning institute. PGWP will be awarded to students based on their tenure at DLI rather than non-DLI.

PGWP in Canada FAQs

Ques. Can I apply for a work permit after my PGWP?

If your post-graduation work permit (PGWP) has expired, you can be qualified for a one-time open work permit that gives you the opportunity to work for up to 18 months.

Note: You are also qualified to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt permit, but given that you already have Canadian work experience, it could be beneficial to think about applying for Canadian permanent residence instead.

Ques. Can I work after graduation before I apply for my PGWP in Canada?

You can go ahead and work full-time while you wait to hear about your post-graduation permit. If, when submitting your application, it was one of these situations:

• had a valid study permit,
• had completed your program of study,
• were eligible to work off-campus without a permit, and
• did not work off-campus more than 20 hours a week during academic sessions.

Ques. How many times can I apply for a PGWP in Canada?

You can only apply for a PGWP Canada once. If you are applying for a program that is part of or extends from your current degree, or you are considering taking a masters degree in Canada, it might be wise to apply strategically with the PGWP. You can get a PGWP for longer periods of study (up to 3 years) if you apply later than the standard application time.

You can extend your PGWP Canada with your new passport only if you were eligible for a PGWP but you didn’t get the full length because your passport was going to expire

NOTE: Include this information in a letter of explanation when you apply to extend your PGWP.

Ques. How PGWP can help you immigrate to Canada?

PGWP gives qualified graduates the chance to get relevant Canadian work experience. You can achieve Canadian permanent residency with enough work experience in Canada. By bringing Canadian education into a full-time valuable internship experience in the country, a candidate is in a great position to apply under Canadian Express Entry immigration process.