February 15, 2019 – Canada’s federal government has extended the application window for international graduates to apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit.
Candidates are also no longer required to be holding a Study Permit to apply for a PGWP, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced on Thursday, February 14, 2019.
Previously, applicants had 90 days to apply after the official date of graduation.
Under new rules, the application period has been extended to 180 days, or six months.
“This allows students to have more time to submit their Post-Graduation Work Permit application once they obtain their notice of graduation from their institution,” an IRCC statement said.
The changes were announced as part of an IRCC program delivery update.
What Is The Post-Graduation Work Permit?
The Post Graduation Work Permit gives international students the chance to work after graduation by granting a Canada work permit for up to three years.
The PGWP is exempt from Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements.
The candidate must have attended a recognized post-secondary school, or a secondary school that offers qualifying programs, for at least eight months.
For programs last between eight months and two years, the Post Graduation Work Permit is issued for the length of the study. For international students who have studied for two years or more, a three-year permit is issued.
The valuable work experience gained during this period can count towards a permanent residence application through Canada Express Entry.
Post Graduation Work Permit: Who Can Apply?
Candidates must:
- Be 18 or older.
- Have continuously studied full-time in Canada in a program at least eight months long.
- Have completed and passed all your program requirements
- Have graduated from one of the following:
- Public post-secondary school, such as a college, trade/technical school or university, or CEGEP in Quebec.
- Private post-secondary school that operates under the same rules as public schools (currently applies only to certain private post-secondary institutions in Quebec).
- Private secondary or post-secondary school (in Quebec) that offers qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer, leading to a diplôme d’études professionnelles(DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP).
- Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law (for example, Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate degree) but only if you are enrolled in a study program leading to a degree as authorized by the province.
- Apply within six months of completing the program.
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
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