Post-Graduation Work Permit is a type of Open Work Permit that is primarily beneficial for the international graduates under a study program in Canada. The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP) enables the candidates to work under an employer of their choice and for the number of hours they would prefer.
Once the applicant acquires prior work experience, he will surely get the opportunity to apply for permanent residency status in Canada. The validity of this program lies between eight months to three years.
Post-Graduation Work Permit- What is meant by it?
Completing graduation from a Designated Learning Institution in Canada lets the international students or foreign nationals work under any employer and wherever they choose within Canada.
Before you decide to select the PGWP program, make sure that you can fulfill the mandatory requirements. You must also remember that all the study programs aren’t permitted for a Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.
The PGWP program is an excellent gateway for graduates to acquire considerable working experience in Canada. Once they get sufficient work experience, the foreign nationals become eligible to apply to become permanent residents in Canada under programs including CEC (Canadian Experience Class), Federal Skilled Worker, PNP, Quebec Immigration Program, and Federal Skilled Trade.
The good news for those applying through the PGWP program is that you don’t necessarily have to seek an LMIA as compared to other work permits that obligate you to go through the Labour Impact Assessment Process (LMIA).
Remembering the key points of PGWP
The following points form the gist of the PGWP program:
- The Post-Graduation Work Program is only as long as the duration of a candidate’s studying period in Canada. This could be a maximum of three years.
- You must be attending 50 percent of your study program in person to stand eligible for the PGWP program equal in terms of the duration of the study program.
- Your PGWP program length must be considered equal to the length of the study program.
What are the qualifying criteria for a PGWP?
To qualify for PGWP foreign nationals are supposed to have completed the full-time study program at a Designated Learning Institute in Canada at the age of 18 years. The study program must not be less than 8 months and the candidate must apply before completing 180 days after the final completion of the study program.
Those candidates applying from Canada will need a valid status in Canada whereas those who are looking forward to applying for PGWP post expiry of their study permit or will be expiring in the near future must seek a valid status as a visitor.
In the case when applicants have already expired their study permit, they can begin to work full-time on an immediate basis while their application is under process. Applicants also have the option of applying from overseas for the PGWP program.
Programs and study levels eligible under PGWP
Not all study programs and study levels are eligible for applying through the PGWP program. The following are the selected few programs and study levels eligible under PGWP
- College, Trade/technical school, university (public post-secondary).
- The Private post-secondary school functions with the same rules as the public schools.
- Those private or Post-secondary schools that offer more than 900 hours long qualifying programs that result in DEP and ASP.
- The private schools in Canada provide degrees under provincial law to enrolled candidates under the study program leading to an authorized provincial degree.
Duration of getting a PGWP
Applying before your study permit expires is highly recommended because it opens the possibility to work in Canada while your application gets processed. It might take 80 to 180 days for the processing of the application. Applying well within 180 days of completing the study program is essential.
Post completion of your study program, you can apply from overseas. But before applying from overseas, there has to be a prior submission of the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program applications from inside Canada. You might be required to submit other additional documents as demanded by the Visa office while applying for a PGWP application from outside Canada.
Applying for work permit post completion of PGWP Program
A Post-Graduation Work Permit Program doesn’t mean that you would not require to apply again for a work permit at a later stage. If you fulfill the eligibility criteria for a PGWP Program then you might or might not use an LMIA. However, in case of your eligibility, it is recommended that you apply for permanent residency status in Canada after having sufficient valid work experience in Canada.
Those who have sufficient work experience in Canada can apply for the following immigration programs:
- Canadian Experience Class
- Quebec Immigration Alternatives
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
Is it possible for a candidate to work after graduation and before applying for PGWP?
It is possible for international students to legally start working in Canada once they apply for a PGWP program before their study permit expires. These international graduates need not have a work permit in Canada while they wait for the decision to be made concerning the PGWP application.
It is also possible to restore one’s status and re-apply in the event of the expiry of your student permit keeping in mind that you have been out of status only for a period of fewer than 90 days.
Is it possible to keep re-applying for a PGWP?
The best way to apply for a PGWP is to get enrolled in a degree or study program that is the longest in its duration to let you stay with a maximum validity of up to three years.
You are allowed to apply for PGWP only once and if you are planning to prolong a study program by continuing under another one just after the first study program, it is advisable to follow a systematic approach toward PGWP.
How is PGWP helpful for immigrating to Canada?
Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit Program integrates Canadian education and Canadian work experience to provide a full-fledged opportunity for international graduates for gaining permanent residence in Canada.
The candidate or graduate can easily apply through the Express Entry Immigration pathway in Canada. Acquiring educational qualifications and work experience in Canada can ensure increased points under the CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) for applicants. This will indeed give them an edge over others competing for the Canadian permanent residence status.
Other special programs that value candidates with educational credentials and work experience in Canada include PNPs (Provincial Nominee Programs) and Quebec Experience Class Program.