A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) gives you permission to remain in Canada and work full time for up to three years after you graduate from a Canadian post-secondary institution. The length of the work permit depends on the length of your program. You do not require a job offer to apply and do not need to work in a specific field.

PGWPs are issued only once in a lifetime, therefore, if you have plans to pursue further studies in Canada, you may wish to consult International Student Advising to discuss when to apply.

Important: The student after completing the Graduation if, doesn’t apply within 90 days of confirmation of graduation or falls out of status before applying for Work permit, by allowing their study permit to expire, they will not be eligible in future to apply for a post graduate work permit after the expiry of 90 days.

After you complete your graduation or program, if you want to work in Canada, you require a work permit. This Work permit is normally an open work permit and is equal to period of your course duration. Also your must have studied at least for 8 month but less than 2 years in the designated Institute. For example if you have studied for say 16 months (which is more than 8 months) then you will be eligible for open work permit for 16 months and if you did your study for 24 months or more than you are eligible for an Open Work Permit of 3 years.

Graduates of Canadian post-secondary institutions are eligible only for a one-time post-graduation work permit after completing their studies. Open work permits allows work authorization to international students and they can work with any employee which in turn helps them to add valuable Canadian work experience in their Permanent Residency application as it gives them few more points to compete in CRS system in Express Entry and it also helps them to gain provincial nominations from few provinces under various PNP programs.

Eligibility for Post-Graduation Work Permit

To be eligible the international students must:

• have a valid study permit when applying for the work permit
• Complete a study program of not less than eight months

Must graduate from a designated institute:

• A public post-secondary educational institution (university, college, or CEGEP-Quebec)
• A private post-secondary educational institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions, and receives at least 50 per cent of its financing for operations from government grants
• A Canadian private educational institution authorized by provincial or territorial statute to confer degrees
• Apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation from their academic institution that they have met the requirements of their program.
• Have completed and passed the program of study and received written notification that they are eligible to obtain their degree, diploma, or certificate

Few more clarification:

• If your study program, in which you are enrolled as full time, is for eight months but is finished in six months or so under any accelerated program, you may still apply for Post-Graduate work permit.
• Transfers between the schools are allowed but if you transfer from the non-designated learning institution to the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) then only the time spent in DLI will be considered as eligible for the PG work permit.
• If you complete your 1-year degree or diploma from a DLI within two years of your last 1-year degree or diploma from another DLI, you will be eligible for three year PG work permit as both degrees or diplomas will be eligible as two years of study.
• If you had to study part time in the final academic session as you need less number of courses in the final session to complete your diploma or degree but you meet all other requirements you still are eligible as this period of study will also be taken as full time study.