Post-Graduation Work Permit in Canada for Indian Students 2025

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 to stay back in Canada for international stduents.

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This Story also Contains

1. Post-Graduation Work Permit Canada Update
2. Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Facts
3. Post-Graduation Work Permit Canada
4. New Requirements For PGWP In Canada
5. Can I Get PR After 2 Years Work Permit In Canada?
6. Canada Post Study Work Visa Duration
7. PGWP Canada Eligibility Criteria
8. How to Apply for PGWP Canada?
9. After Applying for Post Graduate Work Visa in Canada
10. Do Students also need to apply for a visitor visa or eTA?
11. Top Jobs for International Students in Canada
12. Work in Canada While Studying and After Graduation

The duration of a post study work visa 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-Graduation Work Permit Canada along with its eligibility criteria, duration, application process, and more.

Post-Graduation Work Permit Canada Update

The Ministry of Immigration of Canada recently announced a few Canada PSW update for post-graduate work visa eligibility. The changes of 2025 will be applied to those enrolled students who have applied for a study permit after November 1st, 2025. 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:

• The Canadian government has eased the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) rules for all graduates from Canadian bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes. All graduates from Canadian universities and colleges are eligible for the PGWP.
• International students can now work for 24 hours per week and full-time during academic breaks. The working hours allowed for international students used to be 20 hours per week.
• Only programs aligned with Canada’s labor market priorities, such as healthcare, technology, and skilled trades, are eligible for the PGWP rules.
• As for the spouses of students enrolled in master’s or doctoral programs or those in fields identified as critical to Canada’s economy are eligible for the Post graduation work permit.
• There are Canada PSW new rules for language proficiency as well.

1. For university graduates: Students who are enrolled in Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral programs need a minimum CLB 7 if they are applying in English or NCLC 7 if they are applying in French.

2. For college graduates: Students require minimum CLB 5 if they are applying in English or NCLC 5 if they are applying in French. In addition to this, a program that aligns with the labor shortages in Canada is essential.

3. Full-time students at DLI: From 2025 onward, students are required to complete at least 50% of their academic program physically in Canada.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Facts

• A post-graduation work permit may be valid for any period of time between eight months and three years.

• A PGWP will not be issued for a period longer than the applicant's period of study in Canada to make them stay back in Canada.

• Generally, the PGWP will be approximately the same duration as the applicant’s period of study, up to a maximum of three years.

• If your study program is more than 50% in person, then you are eligible to obtain a PGWP equivalent to the duration of your program of study.

• If you studied part-time or did accelerated studies, then the length of your PGWP will be the length of your program of study if it was completed full-time.

• Ensure you meet the new language and field of study requirements if you submitted your study permit application on or after November 1, 2024.

Post-Graduation Work Permit Canada

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

New Requirements For PGWP In Canada

As of November 1, 2024, the new requirements for a PGWP in Canada are:

Language competence

Applicants must demonstrate language proficiency in English or French:

English: Applicants must achieve CLB 7 in all language areas. They can submit results from the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program, the International English Language Testing System, or the Pearson Test of English Core.

French: Appropriate results from TEF Canada (Test d'évaluation de français) or TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français) are accepted, provided applicants have achieved a minimum of NCLC 7 in all language areas.

Can I Get PR After 2 Years Work Permit In Canada?

Yes, you can apply for permanent residency in Canada after you have had a work permit for at least one year.

Canadian Experience Class

This program is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents. To be eligible, you must:

Have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada in the three years before you apply

Be able to meet or exceed the required level of language skills as outlined in your work experience's occupational classification (NOC) skill level.

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 poststudy 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.

PGWP Canada Eligibility Criteria

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:

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

• 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 PGWP 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-Graduation Work Permit 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 intends to travel outside of Canada, he/she must apply for a new one separately.

Top Jobs for International Students in Canada

Students planning to build a career in Canada after successfully completing their higher education in Canada have several job options. The following areas require the most employees in Canada:

• Petroleum engineering
• Computer and information technologies
• Computer programming and software
• Graphics and web design
• Healthcare

Graduates from Canadian universities can aim for the following companies to achieve a job opportunity in the demanded areas.

• Bayer
• Sandoz Canada
• Shopify
• L’Oreal Canada
• PepsiCo Canada
• Siemens Canada
• HootSuite Media

Work in Canada While Studying and After Graduation

While studying in Canada, students have the right to work up to 20 hours a week and full days during summer holidays on a valid student visa. If you want to pursue a career in Canada after graduation, you can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP). Make sure to abide by the eligibility and the rules for the PGWPP.