What is a Canadian Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP) and How to Get It?
A Canadian postgraduate work permit (PGWP) is a type of Canadian work permit issued by the Government of Canada to enable individuals who have completed their undergraduate education at educational institutions that meet the required conditions in Canada to gain work experience in Canada. A Canadian postgraduate work permit is issued with a minimum validity of 8 months and a maximum validity of 3 years.
A Canada postgraduate work permit allows holders to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
What is a Post-Graduation Work Permit in Canada?
A Canadian post-graduation work permit is a type of Canadian work permit that allows foreign students who have graduated from Canadian universities, colleges or educational institutions approved by the Canadian government with at least 8 months of education to work in Canada for up to 3 years after graduation.
A Canadian post-graduation work permit allows holders to obtain Canadian permanent residence.
What are the Requirements for a Postgraduate Work Permit in Canada?
The requirements for a Canadian postgraduate work permit are listed below.
- Being over 18 years old,
- Have completed at least 8 months of full-time education at an institution with the necessary approvals in Canada,
- Being able to prove that the education received in Canada has been completed,
- Applying for a Canadian postgraduate work permit within 90 days of graduating from the institution in Canada,
- Have a Canadian study permit when applying for a Canadian postgraduate work permit.
What are the Exceptions to Working After Graduation in Canada?
If the necessary conditions for obtaining a Canadian post-graduation work permit are not met, it can be checked whether you fall into exceptional circumstances.
Below are the exceptions to working in Canada after graduation.
- Completing the 8-month training planned for an approved educational institution in Canada in 6 months,
- Transferring from one approved institution to another in Canada and receiving education for a total of 8 months,
- Having worked part-time during the last semester of education at an approved educational institution in Canada,
- If you have been assigned a flight instructor position that meets the following requirements:
- To have a Canadian commercial pilot license obtained from a flight instructor training program provided by an institution providing training in Canada,
- To work as a flight instructor at a flight instructor school operating in Canada.
- If vocational or professional training is being undertaken in the Canadian province of Quebec and the following conditions are met:
- It is mandatory to have completed at least high school level education.
- The diploma received at the end of the training must be one of the diploma types listed below.
- Diploma in Vocational Studies (DEP),
- Attestation of Vocational Specialization (ASP),
- Diploma in College Studies (DEC),
- Attestation of College Studies (AEC).
- The education received must be continued full-time for 8 months.
What are the Situations in Which You Cannot Get a Post-Graduation Work Permit in Canada?
Situations in which a postgraduate work permit cannot be obtained in Canada are listed below.
- The education received from an approved educational institution in Canada must last less than 8 months,
- The 8-month education received in Canada does not meet the continuity conditions,
- Education received in Canada is included in the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program,
- Education received in Canada is included in the Government of Canada Awards Program,
- The education received in Canada is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC),
- Being part of the Canada – China student exchange program,
- To be a participant of the Organization of American States Fellowships Program,
- Education received in Canada must be completed remotely, outside of Canada’s borders.
- Current Canadian postgraduate work permit holder.
How to Apply for a Post-Study Work Permit in Canada?
The Canadian post-study work permit application procedure is not complicated and can be completed in person by logging in using the GC Key or bank details on the Canadian government official website or by submitting an application via paper submission.
Canadian post-study work permit applicants are advised to apply online as the processing time for online applications submitted through the Canadian official website is shorter than for paper applications.
In order to apply for a Canadian post-study work permit, the documents and codes that need to be filled out on the official website of the Canadian Government are listed below.
- IMM 5710 – Application to change current immigration status, extend stay in Canada or remain in Canada as a worker,
- IMM 5409 – Legal declaration of the common law union (if there is a law partner)
- IMM 5476 – Use of representative (if a representative is appointed in the application),
- IMM 5475 – Authorization to release personal information to a designated person (if a representative is used),
In addition to the forms filled out on the official website of the Government of Canada during the Canadian post-study work permit application process, the other documents listed below must also be uploaded to the system.
- A copy of valid passport,
- A copy of current valid immigration documents such as Canadian work permit, Canadian visitor visa, etc.
- Transcript from the last university,
- A letter confirming graduation from school,
- If studying in Quebec, a letter from the institution verifying the duration of the study program (in hours or months) and the program code.
After all the required documents are filled out and uploaded to the system, the required fee for the Canada post-study work permit application must be paid. The result of the Canada post-study work permit application will be sent to the applicant by mail or e-mail.
How Much Is the Canada Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP) Application Fee?
Canadian postgraduate work permit (PGWP) is considered under the category of Canadian open work permits and Canadian open work permit is more expensive than other types of work permits. The Canadian postgraduate work permit application fee is 255 CAD$.
How Long Does It Take to Complete a Canada Graduate Work Permit Application?
The process of finalizing the Canada graduate work permit application takes an average of 51 days if the application is made online and 107 days if the application is made by paper submission.
How Long Does a Canadian Graduate Work Permit Last?
The Canadian postgraduate work permit periods that can be applied for, depending on the duration of education received in accordance with the Canadian postgraduate work permit conditions, are given in the table below.
| Duration of the Training Program | Canada Post-Graduation Work Permit Duration |
|---|---|
| Less than 8 months | Not eligible for a Canadian post-graduation work permit |
| 8 to 24 months | A Canadian post-graduation work permit with the same validity period as the duration of the education received |
| 24 months and above | Canadian post-graduation work permit valid for up to 3 years |
| Having graduated from more than 1 educational program | If the education received meets the requirements for a Canadian post-graduation work permit, a Canadian post-graduation work permit valid for up to 3 years can be obtained. |
Can I Get Canadian Permanent Residence with a Canadian Graduate Work Permit?
You can apply for a Canadian postgraduate work permit and a Canadian permanent residence visa if you are working in a job that complies with the Canadian postgraduate work programs listed below and the listed conditions are met.
- Canadian Experience Class,
- Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP),
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP),
- Provincial Nominee Program,
- Atlantic Immigration Pilot.
The conditions that must be met in order to apply for Canadian permanent residence visa types are given below.
- Have language proficiency (English or French),
- Having a profession and job suitable for the program you want to apply for,
- If you have family in Canada, you must be able to prove this.
How to get a permanent residence permit in Canada is examined in this article.
What are the rights of a Canadian Graduate Work Permit?
The rights that you will have with a Canadian postgraduate work permit are listed below.
- In Canada, Canadian university graduates can work for as long as their work permit is valid.
- With a Canadian postgraduate work permit, you can apply for Canadian permanent residence.
- Job, employer and job location can be changed within Canada.
