You cannot stay on in Canada after your graduation on the basis of your study permit. To continue to stay in Canada and work, you will need to apply for a work permit through the ‘Post Graduation Work Permit Program’.
What is the ‘Post Graduation Work Permit Program’?
The Post Graduation Work Permit Program or the PGWPP is an initiative by the Canadian Government to encourage international students to gain essential Canadian work experience after they graduate from a university in Canada.
The Post Graduation Work Permit is an ‘Open Permit’. This means that you can choose to work and live anywhere in Canada and change employers without any restrictions till this permit is valid. As a matter of fact, you can even apply and receive this permit without having a job offer.
This feature makes it very different from the work permits offered by other countries, where there a lot of restrictions involved with regards to where to live and who to work for.
Another great advantage of the PGWPP is that you can use this as a stepping to become a ‘Permanent Resident’ in Canada through the ‘Canada Experience Class’ category.
What is the duration of the Post Graduation Work Permit?
The Post Graduation Work Permit is generally granted for the same duration as your educational program. However, under no circumstances can it be granted for a period of more than 3 years.
So if the duration of your educational program was between 8 months – 2 years, then the length of the Post Graduation Work Permit will be the same as the duration of your program.
However, if the duration of your program was more than 2 years, then the maximum length for which the work permit might be issued for is 3 years. So even if the duration of your program was 4 or 5 years, you will only be issued a Post Graduation Work Permit for 3 years.
What are the eligibility criteria?
You will be eligible to apply for this work permit if you have completed a full – time educational program from a recognized Canadian university or college.
Keep in mind that you would not be considered to be eligible for the Post Graduation Work Permit if the total duration of your program was less than 8 months.
How to apply?
You can apply for the Post Graduate Work Permit online as well as through post. Keep in mind that you will have to apply for the permit within 90 days of receiving your final transcripts from your university.
Also, you will require a valid study permit to apply for the Post Graduate Work Permit. If your study permit is going to expire by the time you are applying for the Post Graduation Work Permit, then you will get a study permit extension which is authorized by the Government of Canada before you can apply.
Once you apply for the Post Graduate Work Permit, you will be permitted to start working in Canada on the basis of the work permit you were issued during your education program for off – campus work.
In case you were not doing off – campus work while studying and do not have the related permit, then it is a good idea to apply for an off – campus work permit during the last semester of your program. This will allow you to start working immediately after graduation.
You will not be able to work for more than 90 days on the basis of an off – campus permit after graduation as off – campus work permits are generally only valid till 90 days after the program.
You will not be allowed to work in a situation where you do not have a valid off – campus work permit during the time you apply for a Post Graduation Work Permit. In such a scenario, you will have to wait till the time where you are issued a Post Graduation Work Permit to start working.