Post-Graduation Work Permit in Canada (PGWP)

Study In Canada Sep 21, 2023 0 662 Add to Reading List

The fact that Canada is one of those nations that provides an advantageous post-study stay option is unquestionably wonderful news for international students. In reality, the Canadian educational system encourages students to apply for jobs and continue living there after they graduate, which is made possible by the country's post-study work visa. You will be able to extend your stay in Canada with a PGWP by an additional three years, giving you permanent residency. Canada's top-notch educational system opens the path for rewarding careers, higher salaries, and a high level of living.

This blog will provide you with all the information about Post Graduation Work Permit In Canada. You need to get started if you are a graduate from a Canadian university and intend to apply for a work visa after studying in Canada.

Why to Apply For A Post Graduation Work Permit In Canada?

Let's first grasp why overseas students apply for a post-study work visa in Canada before we delve into the specifics of what the PGWP is, the Canada stay-back time, the different types of work permits, etc. are.

There is no limit to growth when you're in Canada, one of the top economies in the world, thanks to its low unemployment rate of just 6%, which makes it an ideal location for graduates and job seekers.
Canada is home to a number of top companies that offer excellent packages, such as Cisco Systems, Google, Microsoft, Nike, FedEx, GlaxoSmithKline, Sephora, Intel, etc. The country has a wide scope in multiple fields, such as Engineering, Business, Healthcare, and Education that will help you advance your professional goals.
One of the main benefits of submitting a PGWP Canada application is that it makes permanent residency possible.
In Canada, PGWP is a fantastic method to gain useful work experience and apply what you learn in class to real-world scenarios.

Let's examine the many work licenses you can require in order to work in Canada.

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Types of Work Permit in Canada

The two types of work permits available to international students in Canada after receiving a master's degree are:

Employer-Specific Work Permits
Open Work Permits
Employer-Specific Work Permits

With this sort of work permit, you will be permitted to work in accordance with the terms that have previously been established on your work visa, such as:

Name of your Employer
Duration of Your Employment
Place of Employment

A foreign national who holds one of these permits is only permitted to work for that one employer and in that one capacity.

Open Work Permits

With the exception of those who are identified as ineligible owing to not adhering to the conditions or whose services include striptease, erotic dance, erotic services, or erotic massages, you are permitted to work for any employer in Canada with this work permit.

A foreign student who has completed their master's degree at a designated learning institution (DLI) and is qualified for a work permit in Canada may choose to apply for an open work permit. An example of an open work permit is the PGWP.

What is Post Graduation Work Permit Canada and Who is Eligibility for It?

After acquiring a certificate, diploma, or degree from a designated learning institution (DLI), you can reside and work in Canada on a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). As a result, it enables you to pursue any type of employment in Canada, including those that are unrelated to your course of study. After completing their studies in Canada, a candidate is only eligible to get one work permit there throughout their entire lifetime.

To apply for a PGWP in Canada, you don't need a job offer, but you do need to meet several requirements. Students must possess the following to qualify for a Canada post-graduation work permit:

Apply within 180 days of receiving degree, diploma, transcript, or other official document from school.
A public post-secondary institution, such as a college or university, trade or technical school, or CEGEP (in Quebec), that is a designated learning institution (DLI).
A private or public secondary or post-secondary institution in Quebec with a qualifying program of 900 hours or more which results in a diploma of vocational studies (DVS) or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS), which can be less than 900 hours if combined with a DVS.
A private/public institution in Canada that is authorized to award Associate, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees.
Completed at least an 8-month academic, vocational, or professional training program that results in a degree, diploma, or certificate at an acceptable institution.
Persisted in being a full-time student throughout each academic session of the program while studying in Canada.
Obtained documentation from the DLI proving that you've completed the program's prerequisites, including a transcript and an official letter.

Application For A PWGP From Outside Of Canada

International students may also submit an application for a PGWP from outside of Canada. You can still apply for a work visa from your native country or any other country if you finish your education and return home. Depending on the visa office processing the application, additional documentation may be required in such circumstances.

Special Eligibility Cases:

Students who don't meet the aforementioned requirements may nonetheless be qualified for a PGWP in some exceptional circumstances. There are a few examples of this:

If they finished a study program earlier than the typical duration of the program;
Students have taken an allowed absence from the study program.
If students transfer from a non-DLI to a DLI and spend a minimum of 8 months there;
If the study program has an international component, but the students receive credit from a Canadian institution.

How To Apply For PGWP In Canada?

Both online and offline applications can be made to apply for a PGWP in Canada.
Check out the general procedures to be followed:

Go to the immigration and citizenship section of the official Government of Canada website.
Register for a new account and choose the kind of work permit you wish to apply for.
Finish and submit the form by providing accurate information.
Specify your biometrics and pay the required application and biometric fees.
Create and attach the files listed in the next section.
You might need to show up for a meeting with the officials and give them any further information they request.

After your work visa has been approved, you will receive a letter allowing you to work in Canada. You must present this letter to the officials in order to obtain a work permit if you are outside of Canada when you apply.

Required Documents for PGWP Applications in Canada

The following is a list of what PGWP Canada requires to finish the application process:
Identification documentation, such as a passport or other travel document in good standing that allows you to return to the nation of issue.
Two current photos of you and any accompanying family members that meet the requirements for the visa application photograph.
Documentation proving your employment eligibility for the position.
Evidence that you have finished your program of study, such as your final transcript, a letter of support from the school, or a notice of graduation.
If you intend to work in Quebec, a copy of your Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) from the Ministry of Immigration, Diversity, and Inclusion (MIDI).
Documents that are not issued in English or French must be accompanied by an English or French translation and a certified copy of the original document.
Appear to provide biometric information such as your fingerprints and photograph at a biometric collection service point.
It is wise to be ready to provide any additional documentation that the designated visa officer requests.

If you have one of the following, you are permitted to work full-time until your PWGP application is processed:

Possessing a current study permit and having applied for a PGWP Canada within the first 90 days following the release of your Letter of Completion.
You've finished your course of study.
Could work off campus while studying in Canada without a work visa.
You didn't put in more than 20 hours of labor per week during class.

Validity and Processing Time of the Canadian Post-Graduation Work Permit

How long is a post-graduation work permit valid in Canada, you ask? Well, that depends on how long your study program lasts. The validity of your work permit following your studies in Canada has been discussed:

Your PGWP will be valid for the same period of time as your study program if you were enrolled in a program that lasted at least 8 months but less than 2 years. For instance, a work permit in Canada that is issued after one year of education is good for one year.
Your employment permit will be valid for three years after a two-year study period in Canada.
If you have finished more than one program, your PGWP will combine the duration of all of them as long as they all match PGWP qualifying requirements and are at least 8 months long.

Both paper and online applications are processed by PGWP Canada in about 108 days.

What Should I Do If My Passport Expires Prior to PGWP?

Keep in mind that your passport must be valid for the entire time you will be on a PGWP while applying for one in Canada. If your passport expires prior to PGWP, what should you do? In such circumstances, the immigration officials will inform you if your passport needs to be extended for full validity and will issue you a PGWP that is only valid until your passport expires.

Canada is renowned for its cultural and linguistic diversity as well as for offering fair employment opportunities. High graduate employability rates are a promise made by top Canadian universities, making it simpler for students to land job offers and open the door to a promising future. Plan your route to permanent residence in Canada while working with a PGWP while you are in Canada.