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Pathway to Permanent Residence for International Students

OPTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

After you have graduated from an accredited education institute in Canada, you will have a good chance to make a successful transition from temporary to permanent residence. There are various Federal and Provincial programs that help to get Permanent Residency in Canada for International Students. International Students are eligible to apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit upon graduation. Once an applicant has valid work experience in Canada, it opens a lot of opportunities to obtain Canadian permanent residence.

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What is a Post-Graduation Work Permit?

A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is a open work permit that allows you to remain in Canada and work full time after you complete a certificate, diploma or degree that is at least 8 months in length.

You don’t need a job offer to apply and can work anywhere in Canada in any occupation, even if it’s unrelated to your studies. The only exceptions are jobs at risk of exploitation or jobs which require a medical exam, such as working in school or health care settings.

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Am I eligible to apply?

To be eligible for a PGWP, you must meet all of the following requirements:

  • You must have completed a program of study that lasted at least eight months and led to a degree, diploma, or certificate.

  • You must have studied full-time each academic session without taking time away from studies. This does not include scheduled program breaks, such as winter break or summer break for undergraduate students.

  • You must have completed at least 50% of your program in Canada, which is calculated based on the number of courses completed in Canada, unless you meet the requirements under IRCC temporary policy during the pandemic and transition.

  • You must have completed at least 50% of your program in-person, unless you meet the requirements under IRCC temporary policy during the pandemic and transition.

 

You’re still eligible for the PGWP if one of the following applies:

  • You studied part-time in your final academic session only

  • You took a gap in studies which is considered actively pursuing studies for less than 150 days, such as authorized leave.

If you have ever taken time away from studies or studied part-time, you are required to draft a letter of explanation and gather supporting documents before submitting your application.

Post Graduate Work Permit length

The length of the work permit ranges from a minimum of 8 months to a maximum of 3 years based on the official length of your program, not the amount of time spent completing program requirements. If you complete a 4 year undergraduate degree, you are eligible for a 3 year PGWP. 

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Important:

Your study permit becomes invalid 90 days after your Letter of Completion first becomes available, even if the expiry date on your study permit is several months later. If you plan to stay in Canada after your studies, you must apply to extend your stay in Canada before your study permit becomes invalid to maintain valid status in Canada.

If you don’t apply for the PGWP within 90 days of your Letter of Completion becoming available with a valid study permit, before the 90 day period is over or before your study permit expires (whichever comes first) you must:

  • Change your status to a visitor and apply for the PGWP from inside Canada through the visa office which serves your country of citizenship or

  • Leave Canada and apply for the PGWP from outside of Canada

On August 25, 2022, IRCC announced an extension of temporary policies allowing online courses outside Canada to count towards the post-graduation work permit until August 31, 2023, if meeting eligibility requirements.

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You must submit your application for the PGWP within 180 days of your Letter of Completion first becoming available, inside or outside of Canada. Your study permit must have been valid within the 180 day period before you apply for the work permit, which could mean your timeline to apply for the PGWP may be sooner than the 180 day period after receiving your Letter of Completion.

Unlike most Canadian work permits, the PGWP does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). PGWPs enable eligible graduates to gain valuable Canadian work experience. With enough work experience in Canada, many foreign nationals become eligible for Canada’s permanent residency programs, including one of the following pathways:

  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

  • Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)

  • Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

  • Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)

  • Quebec Immigration Programs
     

PGWPs enable eligible graduates to gain valuable Canadian work experience. With enough work experience in Canada, many foreign nationals become eligible for Canada’s permanent residency programs, including one of the following pathways:

  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

  • Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)

  • Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

  • Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)

  • Quebec Immigration Programs

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