So your study permit is coming to an end and you want to stay in Canada. What should you do next?
Some graduates choose to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). You must apply for a work permit within 180 days of receiving written confirmation (i.e. final transcript, official letter, or formal notification of graduation) from your institution indicating you have met the program requirements.
Continue reading below to learn more about who can apply for the PGWP and to download our Post-Graduate Work Permit checklist.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A POST GRADUATE WORK PERMIT?
Eligible applicants must:
have completed a program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) that was at least 8 months long and led to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
have maintained full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of their program (except for the final semester).
HOW TO APPLY FOR A POST-GRADUATE WORK PERMIT
Follow our Post-Graduate Work Permit Checklist for a step-by-step guide to submitting your application.
STEP 1 - GATHER YOUR DOCUMENTS
Photocopies of passport pages (must show your identity page and stamps from your most recent entry to Canada)
Photocopies of your travel or identity document (e.g. citizenship certificates, birth certificate, etc.) if you didn’t use a passport
Photocopy of your current immigration document (if you have one)
A final transcript
A letter from the institution and/or formal notice graduation
STEP 2 - COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORMS
IMM 5710 - Application to change condition, extend my stay or remain in Canada as a worker
IMM 5409 - Statutory declaration for common-law union (if applicable)
IMM 5476 - Use of a representative (if applicable)
IMM 5475 - Authority to release personal information to a designated individual (if applicable)
STEP 3 - PAY THE FEES
Work permit fee $155
Open work permit holder fee $100
STEP 4 - SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION ONLINE
Create a profile and register or log in using GCKey or a Sign-In Partner
Upload your documents to your account
STEP 5 - BE PATIENT!
The Case Processing Centre will review your application
Wait to receive notification of the decision made of your application
Once you receive your work permit, you must respect the conditions of the work permit and continue to meet the eligibility requirements
OTHER POST-GRADUATE WORK PERMIT APPLICATION TIPS
You should allow at least 30 days before the expiry of your current document to submit your application!
The processing time for the post-graduation work permit is currently 96 days for an online application and 121 days for a paper application.
The Government of Canada updates processing time estimates on a weekly basis and you can check the most up-to-date processing time on IRCC’s website.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: POST-GRADUATE WORK PERMIT
HOW LONG WILL MY PGWP LAST?
The maximum duration of the PGWP is three years. A visa officer will determine how long your permit will be issued for based on the length of your program of study.
If your program of study was between 8 months and 2 years in length: you may get a work permit for a period no longer than the length of your program of study.
For example, if you studied for nine months, a work permit may be issued for a period of nine months.
If your program of study was more than two years in duration: you are eligible for the three-year work permit.
MY STUDY PERMIT WILL EXPIRE BEFORE I CAN SUBMIT MY PGWP. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If you plan on staying in Canada and your study permit will expire before you apply for a PGWP, you should change your status to visitor. When you apply for the PGWP, you will need an official letter from your school confirming your completion of a program and an official transcript or copy of your transcript from your school’s website.
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Calver and Associates is a leading provider of Canadian Immigration services in Durham Region. We serve clients in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, and beyond. Our Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant has over 10 years of experience in Canadian Immigration law and over four years of experience serving those in the Oshawa area.
We can provide assistance with applications for both temporary and permanent residency in Canada. We handle applications for study permits, permanent residency, family class sponsorship, visitor visas, work permits, and Canadian citizenship. We also handle criminal inadmissibility cases by developing remedies for refusal.
