GNI Immigration Services » Post graduation work permit

WORK PERMIT

A work permit is a written authorization to work in Canada issued by an officer to a person who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. It is required if the employment location is in Canada, whether the employer is in Canada.

International students who complete a post-secondary education in Canada are eligible to apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit. The PGWP permit is an Open Work Permit that allows students to work in any job, without restrictions. An LMIA or a confirmation of job offer are not needed to apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit.

After completing their studies in an eligible program (or school), international graduates can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, which allows them to work in Canada. It is extremely important to choose the right school to study, to ensure you are eligible for the Post Graduate Work Permit).

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, international students must:

Have studied full-time for the eight months preceding the completion of their program (please see note below) and must have graduated from one of the following:
- a public post-secondary educational institution (university, college, or CEGEP)
- a private post-secondary educational institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions, and receives at least 50 per cent of its financing for operations from government grants
- a Canadian private educational institution authorized by provincial or territorial statute to confer degrees
- have completed and passed the program of study and received written notification that they are eligible to obtain their degree, diploma, or certificate
- apply for a work permit while holding a valid study permit, or held a valid study permit previously within 180 days of applying for the PGWP. *You must have valid status, otherwise must restore your status, and apply for PGWP.
Important to note: If your post graduate work permit was refused, you will need to restore your status within 90 days of receiving the refusal. You must also stop working. If you are outside of the 90-day restoration period, we may still be able to help you in certain circumstance. Contact our office to discuss further and learn how we can help in this situation.