Post-Graduation Work Permit

Post-Graduation work Permit

Post graduate work permit (PGWP) is a great program for those International students who would like to acquire valuable Canadian work experience after graduation. Also, this program is one of the bridging mechanisms for foreign students to transition from temporary resident status to permanent residency. International graduates can work full time while they wait for the Immigration Officer’s decision (implied status) regarding their PGWP application as long as the student applied within 90 days of program completion while their study permit is still valid. A Study Permit will be invalid at 90 days after program completion, even if the expiry date on the study permit is for longer. Therefore, students are advised to apply within 90 days of program completion in order to take advantage of being able to work full time while waiting for their PGWP approval. This work experience, if in an eligible work category, counts for Canadian work experience that can be applied to gaining more points towards permanent residency.

Who’s eligible for PGWP?

To be eligible for a PGWP a student must have:

• graduated from a full-time academic, vocational or professional program at VIU which is longer than 8 months
• received written confirmation that the student has successfully completed the program
• received a graduation letter and official transcript
• a valid study permit and have complied with its conditions (or have changed status to the visitor or restored student status if study permit expired) or left Canada after study permit expiry
• continuously studied full time (minimum 9 credits per semester) except for the final semester where part-time studies are allowed
• a student must cease any type of work upon completion of the program of study. If applied for PGWP within 90 days on a valid study permit can start working full time from the date of application
• a student may apply up to 180 days after program completion but applying later than 90 days may lead to disadvantages.

NOTE: Study Permits will be invalid 90 days after completing the program of study even if the date indicates it is valid for a longer period. Program completion day is the date when students receive formal notification of completion of the program or student’s final marks are issued. Please remember, the clock starts ticking for 90 days from the date of program completion.

BOTTOM LINE: APPLYING WITHIN 90 DAYS OF PROGRAM COMPLETION HAS MANY ADVANTAGES LIKE WORK DURING PROCESSING TIME AND NOT NEEDING TO CHANGE OR RESTORE STATUS.

How long is a post-graduation work permit valid?

A post-graduation work permit may be valid anywhere between eight months and up to three years, depending on the length of the program of study completed in Canada. The permit cannot be valid for longer than the length of the program of study completed in Canada. For example:

• If you graduate from an eight-month certificate program, you could be eligible for an eight-month work permit.
• If you graduate from a four-year degree program, you could be eligible for a three-year work permit, if you meet program requirements.

You are not eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program if you:

• study in a program that is less than eight months long
• participate in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD)
• participate in a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by DFATD
• receive funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
• participate in the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, Canada-Chile
• participate in the Canada-China Scholars Exchanges Program
• participate in the Organization of American States Fellowships Program
• participate in a distance learning program either from abroad or from within Canada or
• have previously been issued a Post-Graduation Work Permit following any other program of study.