The Post Graduate Work Permit allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience.
Gained skilled Canadian work experience helps them qualify for permanent residence in Canada through the Canadian Experience Category (CEC).
You must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for a Post Graduate Work Permit:
- You must have continuously studied full time in Canada and you must have completed a program of study that lasted at least eight months long.
- You must have graduated from:
- a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, trade/technical school, or university
- a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions
- A Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees but only if you are enrolled in one of the programs of study leading to a degree as authorized by the province.
- You must apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation from your institution indicating that you have met the requirements for completing your academic program.
- You have completed and passed the program of study.
- You have a valid study permit when you apply for the work permit.
Length of the Post Graduate Work Permit
Post Graduate Work Permit is issued up to the maximum validity of three years. If your program of study is:
- less than eight months
- you aren’t eligible for a PGWP
- more than eight months but less than two years
- your PGWP may be valid for up to the same length as your study program (for example, if you studied for nine months, a work permit may be issued for up to nine months)
- two years or more
- a PGWP may be issued for three years
- more than one program
- a PGWP may be valid for up to three years, for example, if you finished a diploma or degree from an eligible school in Canada, and within the next two years, you get a one-year graduate degree or diploma from an eligible school in Canada.
Contact us for more information about the Post Graduate Work Permit or for assistance in applying for a work permit.
