Work after study in Canada - Duration, Eligibility, Application, Work Permit

Work after study in Canada With Post Graduate Work Permit

International students might have done work and study in Canada during the education period. Here, there is also an opportunity for work after study in Canada. International students can apply for post study work visa Canada through the Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). With the PGWP, International students can be able to work after they complete their studies in Canada.

The PGWP allows the candidate to work for a period equal to the duration of the program of study the candidate has pursued in Canada. So if a student comes to Canada for a two-year course, then the work permit after a two year study in Canada will be two years. However, the maximum duration of work permit under the PGWP is three years. The minimum duration of the post study work visa Canada (PGWP) is eight months. Candidates who complete a course in Canada that is less than 8 months in duration are not eligible. Also, irrespective of whether the candidate is pursuing a three-year course or a four-year course, the maximum duration of the PGWP will be three years.

Post Graduate Work Permit Validity

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Canada Work Permit Eligibility

It is a great opportunity for international students who would like to work and study in Canada by applying for PGWP after completion of their degree courses in Canada. To be eligible to get a work permit after study in Canada, the candidate has to fulfil certain preconditions. The main criterion which makes a candidate eligible for the work permit is a minimum study duration of eight months in a Canadian-designated learning institution. Additionally, the candidate must also fulfill the following criteria:

The Post Graduate Work Permit eligibility for the candidates are -

• Be at least 18 years of age when applying.

• Have pursued a full-time program of study in Canada (for at least eight months).

• Must have graduated from a public post-secondary school such as a trade/technical school, university or college. The private secondary or post-secondary school must offer programs of duration 900 hours or longer for the professional diploma or should be a private Canadian institution which can legally award degrees.

• Apply for the PGWP within 90 days of completion of the educational program

• Have a valid study permit while applying for the PGWP

The PGWP is not offered to candidates who have studied in Canada for more than eight months but have done so intermittently. Candidates who have taken semester off during their course are also not eligible to work after study in Canada. Additionally, candidates who already possess a work permit associated with any other program of study are also ineligible. You cannot apply for the PGWP under the following conditions:

• If the study permit expired more than 180 days before you applied for PGWP Canada.

• If you have already received a PGWP Canada.

• If you completed a major portion of studies through distance learning (online courses, e-learning or correspondence).

• If you completed studies in a non-Canadian institute situated in Canada.

• If you participated in the Government of Canada Awards programs funded by Global Affairs Canada.

• If you got funding from Global Affairs Canada, however, if you received the ‘Study in Canada Scholarship’ you are eligible for PGWP Canada.

Check the details of

• Student Visa for Canada
• Documents for Student visa in Canada

Work Permit After 1 Year Study in Canada

Firstly, a PGWP validity is between 8 months to 3 years. Based on the duration of the course studied by the candidates the validity of a post-graduation work permit is dependent. So, similarly the validity of a work permit after 1-year study in Canada is also 1 year. In this case, if the passport of the candidate expires earlier, then the validity of the work permit will be issued until the passport expiry date only. In order to get more validity period on work permit, the candidate can choose courses that are of longer duration. After 1 year of work experience with the PGWP, the candidate is eligible to apply for PR in Canada.

Application for the post graduate work permit in Canada

Applications for the PGWP can be made both online and offline. Applications are to be made with a non-refundable application fee of 255 CAD for the PGWP. The mode of application also determines the processing time of the permit to work after study in Canada. The online application processing time is approximately 168 days while the offline or paper-based applications take 91 days to be processed.

Advantages of having a post graduate work permit

With a postgraduate work permit (PGWP) international students can work for any employer in Canada. They need not have a job offer to apply for work and can work anywhere in any occupation even if it is unrelated to their studies.

Options after the PGWP expires

As we mentioned, the validity of the PGWP is similar to the duration of the course length studied in Canada. However, international students working in Canada on a PGWP have many options once their PGWP expires.

• One option is to apply for permanent residence in Canada before your PGWP expires.
• If you work in Canada for one year with the PGWP, you are eligible to apply for a PR visa in Canada. Further, If you have worked in any of the ‘skilled occupations’ under the PGWP, then you have better chances of success in your PR application because it qualifies you to apply under Canada’s most popular immigration program which is the Express Entry.
• Another option is to apply for a PR Canada visa under the provincial nominee program or the PNP which are immigration programs managed by the provinces and territories in Canada. Applying under the PNP does not require you to have work experience in that particular province or a job offer but having Canadian work experience will act in your favor.
• The Canadian government gives preference to PR applicants who have both Canadian education and work experience. Students who work in Canada under the PGWP qualify under these categories and it can work to their advantage when they apply for a PR visa.
• You can apply for a regular work permit under the temporary foreign worker program to continue your stay in Canada after your PGWP expires.
• Another option is to enroll in another study program before your PGWP expires so that you can continue your stay in Canada.

The PGWP provides a good option for international students to work after study in Canada after their studies and with the work experience that they have gained apply for permanent residency later.