A Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) is an open work permit granted to international students who graduate from eligible Designated Learning Institutions (DLI). With the open work permit, students can gain Canadian experience in skill type 0, A, or B as defined by IRCC’s National Occupational Classification (NOC). After that candidates can apply for Canada’s Permanent Residency.
Due to the frequent changes in the PGWP program, there are many misconceptions and rumors about the Post Graduate work permit. Hence, we have made a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions about the Post Graduate Work Permit.
To be eligible for PGWP, a person must be/have the following:
You may not be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit if you:
– Studied in a program that was less than eight months long;
– Was a part in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC);
– Had funding from GAC;
– Participated in the Equal Opportunity Scholarship;
– Completed a study program by distance learning either from abroad or from within Canada; and/or
– Already was a PGWP holder by completing another program of study.
– Studied at a non-designated learning institute in Canada
Passed study program
Have received a notification of eligibility
Has a transcript or official letter
Submitted application within 180 days
A PGWP application can be submitted online or by mail to IRCC.
You can check the processing time here
The fee for a post-graduation work permit is CDN $155; however, you must also pay the CDN$100.00 “Open Work Permit Holder” fee.
They should hold a diploma/ degree from the following type of educational institutions:
A PGWP applicant should refer to the document checklist provided by IRCC.
No. A student can apply for the PGWP both inside and outside Canada.
No, PGWP cannot be renewed. When a PGWP is about to expire, the holder must apply for a different permit or visa if he or she wishes to continue working in Canada.
Individuals can receive only one PGWP, irrespective of any number of Canadian diplomas, degrees or certificates they obtain.
There is no specification on where you can work once you are in your PGWP.
Yes.
In some cases, a student at the end of his or her degree may only have one or two courses remaining in his or her program. And therefore will study part-time in the final semester to fulfill the credit requirements of a study program. In this situation, a student is not considered to have failed the requirement to study full-time and his or her eligibility for the PGWP is not affected.
In such a scenario, the PGWP may only be issued for a period which equals the study duration in Canada.
If the spouse wishes to obtain an open work permit, he or she must submit a separate application.
Children can also apply for a visitor record or a study permit at the same time the graduate applies for a PGWP. Additional fees and documents are required.
The family members need to submit an application for an appropriate permit in order to remain in Canada with the holder of the PGWP.
The same eligibility criteria applies to international graduates of Quebec institutions. The PGWP program recognizes programs unique to Quebec education system, as long as the program completed is at least 900 hours in length (which is the equivalent to 8 months).
A study or work permit is not a visa and doesn’t allow you to travel back to Canada. If your Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or eTA is still valid and your study permit has not expired you may be able to return to Canada.
If you complete a study program by distance learning either from abroad or from within Canada, you are considered ineligible for the PGWP.
A bridging open work permit (BOWP) lets you keep working while you wait for the results of your permanent residence application.
PGWPs are only valid for up to the expiry date of a passport. It is always a good practice to extend your passport expiry date before applying for PGWP if you’re expecting the PGWP which will be granted to you to be longer than the duration of your passport expiry.
It is when a student or worker applies to extend their status before it expires, so that they can stay in Canada until a decision is made on a new permit application.
If you have applied for a work permit extension before your work permit expired, you can keep working until a decision is made on your application.
You must stay in Canada and meet the conditions of your original work permit.
In some scenarios it may be possible to take an authorized leave of up to 150 days from your study program and still meet the conditions of your study permit.
Admission Hub is one of the largest International Student Immigration Firm based in Toronto & Vancouver. Currently, it operates in the following markets: Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, Europe, Vietnam, and India.
Our parent company CVH Immigration Ltd. Admission Hub is helping and supporting International Students around the world to Study, Work, and Immigrate to Canada. If you want to immigrate to Canada through Study Permit or get your Post Graduate Work Permit, the first step is to complete a FREE CONSULTATION with Admission Hub’s Consultant. If you are eligible for Canadian immigration, our consultant will reach out to provide you with as much assistance as possible.
Interviewed by Apple Daily newspapers and Epochal Times
Educational consultant in Toronto, Ontario – 183 Google Reviews