Post Study Work Visa In Canada: Eligibility, How to Apply, Fees, and Duration

A post-study work visa in Canada allows international students to stay and work in the country for up to three years. Candidates who have recently graduated from a Canadian university designated as a learning institution (DLI) are eligible for a postgraduate work permit in Canada. This provides an easier option for getting a post-study work visa in Canada than the separate work permit procedure. A job offer from a Canadian business is not required to obtain a work permit after education in Canada.

Latest: Canada Country Guide

This Story also Contains

1. Post Study Work Visa in Canada Update
2. Post Study Work Visa in Canada
3. Canada Post Study Work Visa Duration
4. Post Graduate Work Permit Canada Requirements
5. How to Apply for Post Study Work Visa in Canada
6. After Applying for Post Graduate Work Visa in Canada
7. Do Students also need to apply for a visitor visa or eTA?

The duration of a post-study work visa in Canada varies depending on the type of education completed in Canada. The post study work visa application typically takes between 80 and 180 days to process. This after-study work permit in Canada processing time excludes the time required for biometrics. The fees for PGWP is CAD 255, whereas the fee for restoring student status is CAD 634. Read the article to know more about post study work visa in Canada along with its eligibility criteria, duration, application process, and more.

Post Study Work Visa in Canada Update

The Ministry of Immigration of Canada recently announced a few adjustments to post-graduate work visa eligibility. Students enrolled in academic programmes covered by curriculum licensing agreements will not be eligible for a post-study work visa in Canada after September 1, 2024. Some of the most recent improvements on the post-study work visa Canada to ensure a great experience in the country for international students are listed below:

• When entering Canada, one cannot apply for a PGWP at a port of entry (airport, land, or maritime border) until June 21, 2024.

• Starting February 15, 2024, individuals who complete a master's degree programme and meet all the PGWP eligibility conditions will be granted a three-year post-graduation work permit, expanding Canada's potential labour market.

• Beginning January 22, 2024, new post-secondary international students pursuing higher education in Canada at the college or undergraduate level must submit a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from a province or territory along with their study permit application.

• IRCC has decided to restrict PGWPs for certain public colleges that license their curriculum to be provided by an affiliated private college to ensure educational quality.

• The Canadian government also plans to revise the procedures and eligibility for postgraduate work permits in Canada for international students' wives and common law partners. Once these changes take place, spouses and common-law partners of international students at various levels of study, including undergraduate and college programmes, will no longer be eligible for an open after-study work permit in Canada.

Post Study Work Visa in Canada

One of the top reasons to study in Canada is the ease of work permit requirements. International students who have finished a course including a diploma, degree, or certificate in Canada may apply for a PSW visa. However, the programme duration must not be less than 8 months for a post-study work visa in Canada.

Canada Post Study Work Visa Duration

The work permit duration after study in Canada varies according to the length of an approved PSW degree.

• For a course lasting more than 8 months but less than two years, the term of the Canada post-study work visa is the same as the course length.

• For courses of two years or more, the Canada post-study work visa is valid for three years.

• Completing two courses of at least 8 months each qualifies students for a Canada post-study work visa with a period equal to the sum of the two programmes.

• Completing less than 8 months of course does not provide a post-study work permit in Canada.

Post Graduate Work Permit Canada Requirements

The eligibility requirements for a Canada post-study work visa differ slightly between students inside and outside of Canada. However, the common eligibility criteria of the Canada work permit for postgraduates are as follows:

• They must hold a valid study permit in Canada while applying for a post-study work permit in the country.

• Students must hold a passport with an initial validity of six months from the date of application for a PSW visa in Canada.

• To obtain a post-study work visa in Canada, you must have completed at least an 8-month course of study in Canada through DLIs.

Eligibility for Graduates in Canada

After completing their graduation, students in Canada have around 180 days to apply for a PGWP. they are required to confirm that they have attended and completed your programme, including the name of their course and duration. Graduates are further required to submit their degree or diploma, transcript, or an official letter from their school. The eligibility for graduates in Canada is mentioned below:

• Students must have a study permit valid within the last 180 days.

• Apply for visitor records if your study permission expires and you want to stay longer.

• Students who have applied for a study permit extension and are awaiting a response because their study permit in Canada has expired (applicable for students awaiting graduation results) are eligible for a post-study work visa in Canada.

• Applicants who applied for a change of status from student to visitors but did not receive a response may apply for a post-graduate employment permit in Canada even if their study permit has expired.

Eligibility for Graduates Outside Canada

This category includes international students who have finished a course in Canada either online or through distance learning. Although a study permit is not necessary while outside of Canada, it is required for post-graduate employment permits in Canada. Such candidates may apply for PGWP in Canada under the following requirements. The postgraduate work permit eligibility in Canada requires the following:

• Completed a study program at a designated institution and met program requirements.

• Maintained full-time status during each semester of study.

• Students were enrolled in an ongoing program in March 2020, or began a program between spring 2020 and summer 2022.

How to Apply for Post Study Work Visa in Canada

International students who wish to apply for a post-study work permit in Canada must do so within 180 days of completing their course or before their study permit ends. The application for a post study work visa in Canada can be submitted either offline or online, depending on where the applicant is from. Most PSW Canada applications must be completed online. However, in both cases, applicants must have the following documents ready.

• One of the following proofs of having completed an appropriate degree in Canada.

• A diploma or degree certificate.

• An official letter from a Canadian school confirming completion of a qualifying course in Canada.

• Official transcripts from a university, college, or school in Canada.

• Proof of a valid Canadian study permit.

• Prospective applicants applying for a work visa after studying in Canada will face job restrictions if their profession involves close contact with the Canadian public. In such circumstances, a medical exam may be required to remove the restrictions from post-study employment visas in Canada.

After Applying for Post Graduate Work Visa in Canada

International students who have applied for a post-study work permit in Canada and are awaiting a decision can work full-time in Canada until the decision is made. Students who meet the following criteria can work full-time until the authority decides on their work permit application:

• They had a valid study permit at the time students submitted their application and finished their course of study.

• Students were authorised to work off campus without a work permit while studying, provided they did not work more hours during their part-time jobs in Canada.

Note: If students get the WP-EXT for PGWP (IMM 0127 E) letter, they are authorised to work until a decision is made on their work permit application, even if the letter's 120-day validity period has expired. If students require proof of authorisation to continue working, they can request it through the web form.

Do Students also need to apply for a visitor visa or eTA?

Students in Canada who wish to travel outside of Canada must hold a valid visitor visa or eTA. If they return to Canada without a valid visitor visa or eTA, they may be denied re-entry. If students need an eTA to enter Canada by plane, the authority will issue one once their post-graduation work permit application is granted.

• Students who apply from outside of Canada will be provided with a new visiting visa or electronic travel authorisation (eTA) once their post-graduate work permit application is approved.

• If applicants apply from within Canada, they will not be provided with a new guest visa even if their post-graduation work permit application is approved.

• If someone's existing visiting visa has expired and that person intend to travel outside of Canada, he/she must apply for a new one separately.