Canadian Post-Graduation work Permit (PGWP)
International students who complete full-time studies (at least 8 months) at the diploma level or higher in Canada can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). This permit allows students to work in Canada for up to 3 years after graduation.
Duration of work permit after studying in Canada
The duration of the PGWP depends on the duration of the course of study. For periods that are at least 8 months, a 3-year work permit is issued. Work permits are not issued for periods that are less than 8 months.
For example
- If you have completed a bachelor’s or doctorate course and the duration of the course is 4 years, a 3-year work visa will be given.
- If the postgraduate course is 2 years, the work permit will be 3 years.
- If the college course is 9 months, the work permit will be 9 months.
Conditions for obtaining a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
To get a PGWP visa, you must meet the following conditions:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have a valid study visa.
- Have a graduation letter from a recognized university or college in Canada, including all transcripts, certificates, etc.
- Submit your application no later than 180 days after graduation.
- Study full-time in Canada.
- Have not used a PGWP permit before.
Required documents for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
To apply for a PGWP visa, you must submit the following documents:
Valid master’s permit
Valid passport
A photo piece
Having one of the following documents:
Graduation certificate
Official graduation transcripts
Confirmed letter of graduation of the student from the university
Related forms
Procedures for applying for a work permit after studying
The PGWP application is usually done online through the Canadian government portal. The application process is as follows:
- Collect all the required documents.
- Upload your case along with the documents on the Government of Canada portal.
- Pay the case review fee ($255 CAD).
- Submit your case and wait for the result.
The PGWP visa is a great opportunity for international students to work in Canada after graduation and gain Canadian work experience (CEC). This work experience can help students to apply for permanent residence in Canada.
Canadian work permit issuance period
According to the website of the Canadian Immigration Department, the time required to review Canadian work permit visa applications for Iranians is currently an average of 36 weeks. This period can vary depending on various factors such as the type of work permit, where the application is submitted (inside or outside of Canada), and the status of the Canadian immigration office.
Currently, due to the high volume of Canadian work permit visa applications for Iranians, the duration of the cases has increased compared to the past. Therefore, if you plan to apply for a Canadian work permit visa, it is better to plan in advance and allow enough time for this.
If your request is unreasonably delayed, you can use Canada’s writ of mandamus in court.
Below are the factors that can affect the duration of the Canadian work permit:
Type of work permit: Some types of work permit visas, such as Canadian graduate work permit visas, have a higher priority and shorter processing times.
Where to apply: Work permit visa applications submitted from within Canada are usually processed more quickly than applications submitted from outside of Canada.
Status of the Canadian Immigration Service: If the Canadian Immigration Service is facing a shortage of manpower, the processing time may be extended.
To know the latest status of the Canadian work permit visa issuance period, you can visit the website of the Canadian Immigration Department.
