PGWP in Canada
For foreign nationals who wish to work in Canada after completing their post-secondary studies.
A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) authorizes a foreign national to work in Canada after they finish their studies at a designated learning institution (DLI)
Many foreign nationals prefer to gain Canadian work experience in order to earn more money or apply for permanent residence in the future.
This page will illustrate what a PGWP in Canada is and the process of obtaining one.
Table of Contents
What is a PGWP?
A Post-Graduation Work Permit is an LMIA-exempt open work permit that eligible students can apply for. The following students may be eligible to apply for a PGWP, according to section 186 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations:
Once a student who meets the above criteria has submitted their application, they are eligible to work while a decision is being made on their PGWP application.
A PGWP may be valid for up to three years depending on the length of your studies. It is only issued to students who studied full time in a designated learning institution for a PGWP-eligible program. The minimum duration of your program of study must be at least 8 months according to the IRCC website.
Why do I need one?
Many students would like to gain valuable Canadian work experience to earn money and apply for permanent residence in the future. If they gain one year of employment experience in a NOC 2021 TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 category occupation, they may be eligible to apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class via Express Entry.
Being in Canada makes job searching much easier than if they were to apply from outside Canada. Additionally, they do not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment to get a job.
The Express Entry system high values Canadian work experience. Provincial Nominations are also given to international students who graduated from a post-secondary institution in certain provinces.
The conditions of a PGWP
A foreign national who holds a PGWP must only work for duration indicated on the permit. An officer can grant a PGWP which is valid up to three years in length.
Additionally, a PGWP can only be issued once. As soon as your PGWP expires, you cannot apply for another one anymore. If a student studied between 8 months to less than 2 years, their PGWP validity might coincide with the duration of their program of study. For a program that is two years or longer, an officer may grant up to three years. See the IRCC website for more information
How to apply
Foreign nationals have 180 days to submit their application for a PGWP after completing their studies. Completion of their studies starts whenever the student received an official written confirmation that they have successfully completed their studies.
They have the choice to apply from within Canada or outside Canada. However, a study permit is typically valid for 90 days after the completion of their studies. Thus, it is important to apply for a PGWP prior to the study permit expiring if they choose to apply from within Canada. If their study permit is expired, they should also apply to restore their status and pay the necessary fees. A student could also change their status to a visitor in order to remain in Canada after their study permit expires, but they will not be able to work while a decision is being made on their PGWP as per section 186(v) of the Regulations.
The application package for a PGWP within Canada and outside Canada are available on the IRCC website.
For more information on PGWP applications, visit the Government of Canada website or book a consultation.
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