Duration Of Post Graduate Work Permit In Canada

If you are searching for the duration of post-graduate work permit in Canada, then you have landed at the right spot. Under the Canadian visa rules and regulations, foreign students who have graduated from a recognized university in Canada can find a job in the country. The duration of post graduate work permit depends on a number of factors including the candidate’s nationality, job offer and program of study. It is to be noted that the duration of Post Graduate Work Permit does not exceed three years. However, it can be extended further if approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).Post graduate work permit is also referred to as post-graduation work permit and Post Graduate Work Permit in Canada. It allows international students to stay in Canada after completing their studies to gain valuable Canadian work experience before leaving the country.

Duration Of Post Graduate Work Permit In Canada

Roughly, a Post Graduate Work permit allows an individual to work in Canada and is associated with studying or training at a post-secondary level. One of the most attractive features of Post-Graduate Work Permit program is that it is based on an employer or sponsor who is willing to hire foreign workers. Therefore, it eliminates the burden on students and other applicants to fulfill the job requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

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Post-graduation work permit validity

A post-graduation work permit may be issued based on the length of the study program for a minimum of 8 months up to a maximum of 3 years.

When determining the length of a post-graduation work permit, officers may consider the duration of the program of study in Canada and confirm it with supporting documents. Regularly scheduled breaks (for example, scheduled winter and summer breaks) should be included in the time accumulated toward the length of the post-graduation work permit.

This section also gives guidance on

Determining the length of the post-graduation work permit

The validity period of the post-graduation work permit may not go beyond the applicant’s passport validity date. If the applicant’s passport expires before the validity period of the post-graduation work permit, the officer should note this reason in the “Notes” box, in the Global Case Management System. The post-graduation work permit applicant then has to apply for a work permit extension upon the renewal of their passport to receive the full validity of their post-graduation work permit.

Post-graduation work permits can be extended only when the length of the permit could not be provided at the time of the application, due to the expiry date of the applicant’s passport.

Note: If the officer notes that the duration of studies was shorter than the duration of the program, as indicated in the letter confirming the completion of the program of study, and the program was not completed in an accelerated form, the post‑graduation work permit may be issued in accordance with the duration of studies. For example, if the applicant undertook classes for a period of 12 months, not in an accelerated form, but their degree notes that it is a 2‑year degree, the post-graduation work permit may be issued for 12 months, in accordance with the duration of their studies.

Note: For information about labour disruptions and strikes, see Applicants impacted by a DLI strike.

Length of the program or programs of study, including Quebec vocational programs with a diploma of college studies (DCS) and an attestation of college studies (ACS)	Length of Quebec vocational programs with a diploma of vocational studies (DVS) or attestation of vocational specialization (AVS)	Length of the post-graduation work permit that can be issued
The program of study is at least 8 months and less than 2 years.	The vocational program of study is at least 900 hours and less than 1,800 hours.	The length of the work permit should coincide with the length of the program, as confirmed by the eligible DLI in the written confirmation of program completion (such as an official letter of completion or transcript).Regularly scheduled breaks (for example, regularly scheduled winter and summer breaks) should not be subtracted from the length of the post-graduation work permit.Note: For graduates with a DVS or AVS, a prorated calculation may be performed to determine the work permit length. Each additional 112 hours of an authorized program of study provides the applicant with an additional 1 month of work permit access. Officers should round up to the next full month.Note: Officers may issue 3‑year post-graduation work permits to individuals who complete a master’s or doctoral degree in Canada when the eligible DLI has confirmed in the written confirmation of program completion that the degree is 16 to 23 months in length, and does not include regularly scheduled breaks.
The program of study is 2 years or longer.	The vocational program of study is 1,800 hours or longer.	If the length of the program is confirmed by the eligible DLI in the written confirmation of program completion (such as an official letter or transcript), the length of the work permit should be 3 years.Regularly scheduled breaks (for example, regularly scheduled winter and summer breaks) should not be subtracted from the length of the post-graduation work permit.
The student completed more than one program from an eligible DLI within 2 years.Note: Each program of study must meet all PGWPP eligibility requirements and be at least 8 months in length.	The student completed more than one DVS or a DVS and an AVS from an eligible DLI within 2 years.The DVS program must be at least 900 hours in length. The AVS program can be less than 900 hours in length, if submitted in combination with a DVS.	The length of the work permit should combine the length of each program.If the combined length of the programs is 2 years or longer (or 1,800 hours or longer for a combination of a DVS with an AVS in Quebec), the work permit may be valid for up to 3 years (provided that the DVS program in Quebec is at least 900 hours in length).

Accelerated studies

If a student completes their studies in less time than the normal length of the program (that is, they have accelerated their studies), the post-graduation work permit should be assessed on the length of the program of study.

For example, if the student is enrolled in a program of study that is normally 1 year in duration, but the student completes the requirements for the program of study within 8 months, they may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit that is valid for 1 year.

Applicants impacted by a designated learning institution (DLI) strike

Applicants who are impacted by a strike affecting a DLI in Canada are considered to be studying continually full time during the strike period. The period of time in which the students are not attending class due to a school strike does not impact their eligibility under the PGWPP. Applicants impacted by a school strike must meet all other eligibility requirements under the PGWPP.

Students must be continually studying full time in Canada. However, if a student meets all the eligibility requirements, with the exception of full-time status during their final academic session, they are still considered eligible for the PGWPP.

Distance learning

Distance learning can be considered online learning. Students who complete a program of study exclusively by distance learning (outside or within Canada) are not eligible for a post-graduation work permit.

Officers should use the following guidelines to assess an applicant’s post-graduation work permit eligibility when the applicant has taken distance learning in Canada at an eligible DLI:

If more than 50% of the program of study’s total courses are completed by distance learning, the program may reasonably be considered a distance-learning program, and the applicant is ineligible for a post-graduation work permit.
If less than 50% of the program of study’s total courses are completed by distance learning, a post-graduation work permit may be issued. The validity should be based on the length of the program, as confirmed by the eligible DLI, including credits earned from both in-class and distance-learning courses.

Note: If the distance-learning courses are completed outside Canada, they must be excluded from the time accumulated toward the length of the post-graduation work permit.

Transfers between educational institutions

In cases where a student has transferred between eligible Canadian DLIs, the combined length of study must be at least 8 months to qualify for a post-graduation work permit.

In cases where a student graduated from an eligible DLI after having transferred from an ineligible institution, only time spent at the eligible DLI counts as eligible for post-graduation work permit issuance. Time spent at the eligible institution must be at least 8 months.

Example 1: Transferring from a foreign institution
Example 2: Transferring from an ineligible institution
Example 3: Transferring between eligible DLIs

Programs with an overseas component

If a student completes a program of study in Canada that has an overseas component, they are eligible for the PGWPP, as long as they earn a Canadian educational credential from an eligible DLI. However, the length of the post-graduation work permit is based on the length of time they studied in Canada. Officers may contact the DLI to confirm that the studies have taken place in Canada.

Making an application

Applicants must apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) within 180 days of obtaining written confirmation, such as an official letter or transcript, from the designated learning institution (DLI) indicating that they have met the requirements for completing their program of study.

Calculation of the 180 days begins the day the student’s final marks are issued or the day formal written notification of program completion is received, whichever comes first. The onus is on the applicant to provide proof of the date the transcript is received. Officers may also confirm this date with the DLI.

Applicants may apply for a PGWP from within Canada if their study permit is still valid or they meet one of the other requirements of section R199.

Applicants whose study permit becomes invalid or expires before they apply for a PGWP are not eligible to work without a permit under paragraph R186(w) and must either

leave Canada and apply for a PGWP from overseas or
apply to restore their status as a student by applying for a PGWP with the correct fees ($255) and paying the fees to restore their status as a student ($350)

Note: Applicants may submit an application “outside” of Canada while they physically remain in Canada. They must maintain their status as a visitor until they receive the actual work permit. However, they are not eligible to work while waiting for a decision on their PGWP application as per paragraph R186(w).

The application package for a PGWP can be obtained through the IRCC website:

All in-Canada visitor extension, study permit and work permit applications must be submitted electronically, with some exceptions. See the list of programs that are exempt from the in-Canada mandatory electronic application requirement.

Work authorization after submitting a post-graduation work permit application

As per paragraph R186(w), graduates who apply for a work permit, such as a post-graduation work permit, before the expiry of their study permit are eligible to work full time without a work permit while waiting for a decision on their application if all of the following apply:

They are or were the holders of a valid study permit at the time of the post-graduation work permit application.
They have completed their program of study.
They met the requirements for working off campus without a work permit under paragraph R186(v) (that is, they were a full-time student enrolled at a DLI in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program of at least 8 months in duration that led to a degree, diploma or certificate).
They did not exceed the allowable hours of work under paragraph R186(v).

Applicants remain eligible to work full time without a work permit while waiting for a decision on their application even after leaving and re-entering Canada.

Applicants must stop working as soon as they are notified by IRCC (for example, via their MyAccount, by email or by mailed letter) that their application for a work permit is refused.

Interim proof of work – Acknowledgement of receipt

Upon receipt of an online work permit application, a generic temporary resident acknowledgement of receipt (TR Acknowledgement of Receipt) is sent automatically by the Global Case Management System (GCMS). As of February 2021, after sending the TR Acknowledgement of Receipt, GCMS then validates a specific set of rules, and if all rules exist, a second letter (IMM 0127 E – WP-EXT for PGWP) indicating the authorization to work under paragraph R186(w) is sent automatically.

Letter validity

Officers should understand that the validity date of the letter in no way overrides the authority of paragraph R186(w), which allows foreign nationals who meet the requirements to continue working until a final decision is made on their work permit application.

The letter has a 120-day validity from the date of receipt, which corresponds with IRCC’s service standard for in-Canada applications. Historically, IRCC meets its service standard more than 90% of the time; therefore, only a few applicants will require a new letter. Most should receive a decision before the 120 days have expired.

If the 120 days have passed and no decision has been rendered

In cases where the 120 days have passed and no decision has been rendered, the applicant may request continued proof of authorization to work using the IRCC web form.

Client Support Centre (CSC) agents can follow their standard procedures to respond.

Requests for supporting documents that may place the processing time beyond 120 days

If the IMM 0127 E – WP-EXT for PGWP was previously sent (exists in Outgoing Correspondence View tab) and the processing officer determines that further documentation is required, in the Item Requested section, the officer should select “Other” and add the following text:

Your authorization to work is continued under paragraph 186(w) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations for an additional 120 days from the date of this letter or until a final decision is made, whichever comes first.

Spouses and common-law partners of post-graduation work permit holders

Spouses and common-law partners of post-graduation work permit holders may be eligible to apply for an open work permit under the C41 exemption for (spouses and common-law partners of skilled workers).