Overview of Post-Graduation Work Permit
In this helpful guide, we provide a simple overview of a post-graduation work permit in Canada
What is a Post-Graduation Work Permit?
A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is a “once-in-a-lifetime” work permit you can get after graduating from PGWP-eligible programs.
How can I check if the program I want to enrol in is PGWP-eligible?
As a general rule, all public colleges or universities are PGWP-eligible. Therefore, if you graduate from an academic or vocational (not ESL) program, you can apply for a PGWP.
Some programs from private colleges or universities are also PGWP-eligible. To check:
- Go here;
- Select “Province” at the bottom; and
- Type in the school name.
If only certain programs are PGWP-eligible, the result will say “Yes (details).” Click on the “Details” to see which specific programs are PGWP-eligible.
For example, LsSalle College is a private institution in Vancouver, and the result shows as follows:
Now, click on (details) to see the full list of PGWP-eligible programs from LaSalle College Vancouver.
Based on the results, you’ll know that the four listed programs from LaSalle College are PGWP-eligible.
How long is a PGWP valid for?
As a general rule, the duration of PGWP is equivalent to the length of your study. In other words, if you graduate from a 1-year program and apply for a PGWP, you can expect the length of your PGWP to be also 1-year.
There are other rules to this.
The most important one is that if you graduate from a program that is 2 years or longer in length, a visa officer has the discretion to grant a 3-year, not 2-year, PGWP. Most students who study in a 2-year program manage to obtain a 3-year PGWP.
If you studied in an accelerated program, you may also be eligible for a longer PGWP. For example, if you studied in an accelerated program whose credit requirements are equivalent to those of a 2-year program, you may also be granted a 3-year PGWP. Please note that this is up to the visa officer to decide and not a guarantee. There are ways to increase your chance of getting a longer PGWP in such cases, but that is beyond the scope of this document.
You can read more about these rules here.
Should I enrol in a 1-year or 2-year program?
This is a difficult question to answer without knowing your background. However, if you’re planning to immigrate to Canada while working on a post-graduation work permit, you must know that the most common federal immigration program known as Express Entry requires at least 1 year of Canadian work experience. Therefore, it is generally advisable that you pursue a 2-year diploma to maximize your chance of getting a 3-year PGWP.
Of course, some provincial immigration programs require less work experience than that, and it may be possible with a 1-year PGWP. However, in almost all cases, it is advisable to pursue a 2-year or longer program.
Still unsure or have questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us.