One of the most important things to consider when choosing a study destination is the ability to live and work in that country after graduation. You will want to feel valued and accepted as part of the community you have studied in over the past years.
In Canada, famous worldwide for its warm attitudes and vibrant cities, you will find an atmosphere that is welcoming to international graduates. This article explores post-study work permit options in Canada and the application process.
What is the Canadian post-graduation work permit (PGWP)?
Most international students who want to live and work in Canada beyond the length of their studies apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). This permit was designed to attract and keep the skills and talent of Canada’s graduates within the country’s workforce.
Who can apply?
You can apply for a Canadian post-graduation work permit if you have studied and completed a course at an eligible designated learning institution (DLI), and:
- the course was at least 8 months long and fulfilled certain programme requirements
- you were a full-time student during each semester of your studies (excluding your final semester or approved study breaks)
- you have a valid study permit for the last 180 days
- you applied to extend your Canadian study permit before it expired and haven't received a decision yet
Additionally, your DLI must be one of the following:
- a public post-secondary institution
- a private institution authorised to award your degree under provincial law
- a private post-secondary institution in Quebec which operates under the same rules as a public one
- a post-secondary institution in Quebec offering qualifying programmes of at least 900 hours (and you received either a Diploma of Vocational Studies or an Attestation of Vocational Specialisation).
You cannot apply for a post-graduation work permit if the course you studied was:
- English or French as a second language
- a general interest or self-improvement course
- primarily studied through distance learning
- delivered by a non-Canadian institution located in Canada
- offered under a curriculum licensing agreement (also known as public-private partnerships) by a PGWP-eligible DLI
Programme requirements
If you study at a college, or on a non-degree programme at university, your subject must fall within one of the following six areas:
- agriculture and agri-food
- education
- healthcare and social services
- science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
- trades
- transport
In total, 920 different fields of study are included in these areas. As such, your options are still extensive. In addition, it is important to note that university degree graduates are not affected by the change.
Read more about other circumstances which might affect your eligibility for a PGWP.
How long can I stay?
The amount of time you can stay in Canada on a post-graduation work permit will depend on the length of your study programme. If your study programme lasted between 8 months and 2 years, you will most likely receive a PGWP that lasts for the same amount of time as your studies did.
If your study programme was 2 years or longer, your PGWP will likely be valid for 3 years. If you studied more than one programme, you may be eligible to receive a PGWP which combines the length of each programme.
You may qualify for a 3-year PGWP if you complete a master's programme lasting between 8 months and 2 years, provided you satisfy all other eligibility criteria.
A post-graduation work permit will only be valid until your passport expires/ends. If your passport is due to expire/end soon, you may wish to renew it before you apply for your PGWP to be eligible for full validity.
Discover the top five graduate jobs in Canada.
What rules are there?
As a Canadian post-graduation work permit holder, you will be able to:
- work in any job
- be self-employed
- look for work
- work as many hours as you like
- apply for visas/work or study permits for your partner and children to live in Canada with you
You cannot apply for a post-graduation work permit more than once. Be aware that every permit is unique. Visas are given on a case-by-case basis. Yours may include other conditions depending on your circumstances.
When to apply
You must apply for your post-graduation work permit within (a maximum of) 180 days of graduating from your study programme. Ideally, you should apply for your PGWP before your study permit expires/ends.
In some cases, your study permit might be due to expire before you can apply (or will expire before you get your results). In this case, before you apply for your PGWP you must either:
- apply for a visitor record to extend your stay in Canada (you must do this before your study permit expires/ends); or
- leave Canada and restore your status as a student (you must do this and apply for a PGWP within 90 days of your study permit expiring/ending)
What are the costs?
The application fee for a Canadian post-graduation work permit is CAD 255. If your study permit expired before you could apply, you will also need to pay CAD 100 to apply for a visitor record or CAD 389.75 to restore your student status.
You may also need to pay a biometrics fee of CAD 85 per person, or CAD 170 for a family of two or more.
Remember, you must be able to support yourself while living in Canada. When budgeting, don't forget to include expenses such as rent, bills, medical insurance and travel costs.
For more details, see our guide on the student cost of living in Canada.
What documents do you need?
When applying for your Canadian post-graduation work permit, you will need:
- your passport
- your current immigration document
- proof that you attended and completed your study programme, including its name and length, for example:
- your degree or diploma certificate
- your transcript
- an official letter from your DLI
Proof of language results
Most PGWP applicants must provide proof of English or French language skills. Only graduates from PGWP-eligible flight schools are exempt.
Your required language level depends on your course. Tests must be taken in person, and your results must show your ability in:
- reading
- writing
- listening
- speaking
Your test results must be less than two years old at the time of application.
Accepted tests include:
English
- CELPIP-General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Programme)
- IELTS General Training (International English Language Testing System)
- PTE Core (Pearson Test of English Core)
French
- TEF Canada (Test d’évaluation de français)
- TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français)
Depending on your circumstances, you may be asked to provide additional documents after you submit your application.
Completing your application
In most cases, you must apply for your post-graduation work permit online. Make sure you have your credit or debit card ready to pay the fees associated with your application.
From 21 June 2024, applying for a PGWP at any port of entry (airport, land, or marine border) upon entering Canada is no longer permitted.
If you need to extend or change the conditions of an existing PGWP, you must apply on paper.
After you apply
You can work full-time while you await a decision if:
- your study permit was valid at the time you submitted your PGWP application;
- you have completed your study programme; and
- your study permit states you can work off-campus
You can leave and re-enter Canada after applying for your post-graduation permit as long as you have a valid visitor visa or electronic travel authorisation (eTA).
If you applied for your PGWP from inside Canada, you will not be issued a new visitor visa or eTA. In this case, if your existing visitor visa/eTA expires and you want to leave the country, you will need to apply for a new one.
What other work permit options are there?
Do you want to learn more about other available Canadian work permits? Our table below outlines the two categories that work permits can fall under.
You might decide one of these is better for you than a PGWP. Or you might choose to switch to one of these after your PGWP expires. Whatever the case, it’s always a good idea to fully understand your options.
|
Permit category |
Eligible applicants |
|
Open work permit |
People meeting certain eligibility requirements, that want to be able to work for any employer in Canada |
|
Employer-specific work permit |
People looking to work only with a specific employer in Canada |
Read more about various types of work permits within each of these categories to find out if there is one which might suit you.
Don't forget
Always be aware of your permit’s dates and conditions – these will tell you what you can and cannot do when you are in Canada. If you think there has been a mistake on your PGWP, you should inform the Canadian Immigration Board immediately.
You can continue your research into studying in Canada by exploring Canadian universities with our search feature below.
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