How To Apply For a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

Are you a student who studied in Canada and plans to gain Canadian work experience but does not know where to start? Then this post is for you.

First of all, congratulations on your accomplishment! All the years you have studied are behind you, and now you are ready to step into the work. To work in Canada, you need a specific work permit called a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

This type of work permit does not require students to have a job offer, and the duration of the license can go up to 3 years (depending on the official length of the program completed). After you graduate, you have up to 180 days to apply for a PGWP. In this blog post, we will go over the necessary steps on how to obtain your PGWP.

How To Apply For a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

1. Determine your eligibility:

The first step is determining whether you are eligible to apply. According to the official Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, students who have graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLI) can apply for this program.

If you are not sure whether your learning institution is included, you can click this link to check. Designated learning institutions list
 

2. Obtain your final transcript or letter of completion: 

After determining your eligibility, the next step is obtaining your final transcript or letter of completion. You will need official documentation from your DLI that confirms that you have completed your studies and are eligible for graduation.

Each university has its system when it comes to receiving official documentation. Therefore, I suggest students check with their university. 

3. Ensure your study permit is still valid:

The third step is ensuring that you still hold a valid study permit when you apply for the PGWP. If it expires, then you may need to apply for restoration of that status before applying for the PGWP.

4. Gather required documents:

The fourth step is preparing all the necessary documents for your PGWP application. These documents are listed as follows:

• Valid Passport (The PGWP cannot be issued past the expiry date of your passport)
• Valid Study Permit
• Letter of completion or Final transcript
• Passport-sized photos
• Application fee payment
• Other documents required by IRCC

5. Apply online

The fifth step is submitting the necessary documents through the IRCC website. To apply online, you need to create an account and complete your application form. 

6. Pay the application fee:

The application fee for PGWP is CDN$ 155, yet you must also pay the CDN$ 100 “Open Work Permit Holder” fee. Therefore, in total, you need to pay CDN$ 255. 

7. Wait for processing:

If you followed all these steps, now it’s time to wait for IRCC to process your application. Beware that the processing time might take up to 147 days. During this time, try to stay calm.

8. Obtain your PGWP:

If your application is approved, you will receive your Post-Graduation Work Permit. From now on, you can work in any occupation anywhere in Canada and change employers any time you wish.