Post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) are open work visas granted to foreign students who complete a programme of study in Canada. PGWPs give their holders the freedom to work wherever they want, for any company, and for however many hours they want. Through the Canadian experience class in Express Entry, students who gain Canadian work experience are eligible for Canada express entry draw.
For Whom is Express Entry available?
Ideal Express Entry candidates have a university or college degree, relevant work experience, and a moderate level of English and/or French proficiency.
Candidates must also be eligible for one of the three federal programmes in order to submit a profile through the Express Entry system:
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST) (CEC)
What is the Price of Express Entry?
Express Entry charges approximately $2,300 CAD for a single applicant and $4,500 CAD for a couple to immigrate to Canada. The breakdown of expenses consists of,
- The average cost of a language exam is $300.
- The average cost of an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is $200.
- Biometrics: $85 per individual 3.
- Taxes: $1,325 for adults and $225 for children
- Average costs for medical exams are $450 for adults and $250 for children.
- Police clearance certificates cost, on average, $100 per nation.
Your initial Express Entry profile can be submitted without paying any government costs. Only when you are encouraged to submit an application for Canadian permanent residence are the payments sought. If you submit your application through a PNP, you might additionally have to pay provincial immigration fees in addition to the government processing expenses.
Unless you are applying through the Canadian Experience Class programme or have a legitimately established employment offer, you should also be aware that you will need to show that you have the financial resources to sustain your resettlement in latest express entry draw. You must have access to this settlement money in order to be granted a visa for permanent residence, even though they are not payments paid to the government.
Is a Job offer Required for Express Entry?
Express Entry does not require a job offer. The vast majority of applicants who are chosen for Express Entry do not already have a formal job offer from Canada.
If you do have a legitimate Canadian job offer, this could raise your CRS score by up to 200 points.
- A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) is exactly what it sounds like.
- Quick information about PGWP
- Who qualifies for a PGWP?
- What is the turnaround time for a PGWP?
- Am I eligible to apply for a work visa following my PGWP?
- Can I start working right after I graduate and before I apply for my PGWP?
- How often may I submit an application for a PGWP?
- The ways a PGWP can aid in your immigration to Canada
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): What is it?
International students who have graduated from a Canadian-designated learning institution are eligible for post-graduation work permits (PGWPs).
Canada Express Entry Draw
Every two weeks or so, there are typically Express Entry draws. Candidates are chosen from the Express Entry pool and sent invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence status by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). To view the most recent draw results, scroll below.
IMMIGRATION TIP
Not all programmes of study in Canada are eligible for a post-graduation work permit. Be sure to verify PGWP eligibility before selecting a program.
Unlike most Canadian work permits, the PGWP does not require a labour market impact assessment (LMIA). PGWPs enable eligible graduates to gain valuable Canadian work experience. With enough work experience in Canada, many foreign nationals become eligible for Canada’s permanent residency programs, including one of the following pathways:
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST),
- FST (Federal Skilled Trades), FSW (Federal Skilled Worker),
- Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP),
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC),
- Immigration programmes in Quebec
Fast facts about PGWP
- The duration of a post-graduation employment visa might range from eight months to three years.
- A PGWP will not be granted for a period of time that exceeds the applicant’s time spent studying in Canada.
- The PGWP will typically last up to three years and be about equal in length to the applicant’s study time.
- You are qualified for a PGWP that is equal to the length of your programme of study, as long as more than 50% of it is delivered in person.
- Your PGWP will be the same length as your programme of study, whether full-time, part-time, or accelerated.
Who can apply for a PGWP?
To be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), a foreign national must be at least 18 years old and have completed a full-time study programme in Canada for at least 8 months. A Designated Learning Institution (DLI) must have offered the study programme, and it must have been one of the programmes specified below. Additionally, a foreign national must submit an application for a work permit within 180 days of finishing their study programme.
An applicant must have a valid status at the time of their application if they are applying from within Canada. Before applying for the PGWP, they may apply for guest status if their study permit has expired or will soon expire. However, candidates who apply for a PGWP before their study permit expires are qualified to start working full-time right away, even when their application is still being processed. PGWP applications may come from abroad.
Study Levels Eligible
PGWPs are available for the following levels of study and programmes:
- a public post-secondary institution in Quebec, such as a university, college, trade school, or CEGEP;
- public post-secondary institutions in Quebec, such as colleges, universities, trade or technical schools, and CEGEPs;
- private post-secondary institutions operating under the same regulations as public schools (applicable to only some Quebec institutions); or
- Public post-secondary institutions in Quebec, such as universities, colleges, trade or technical schools, and CEGEPs; private post-secondary institutions operating under the same regulations as public schools (applicable to only some Quebec institutions);
- private secondary or postsecondary institutions in Quebec that provide qualifying programmes of 900 hours or more that lead to a diploma in professional studies (DEP) or an attestation of specialisation in practise (ASP);
When can I Expect to Receive a PGWP?
Processing a PGWP can take between 80 and 180 days. If you applied before your student permit expired, you are permitted to work in Canada while you wait for your PGWP.
After finishing all of your program’s prerequisites, you have 180 days to apply for your PGWP.
You can now apply for a PGWP from abroad if you leave Canada after finishing your education. Applications for post-graduation work permits previously had to be made only from within Canada. Depending on the visa office handling the application, further evidence can be needed if a PGWP application is submitted from outside of Canada.
After my PGWP, may I apply for a Work Permit?
Nothing about a PGWP prevents you from later submitting an application for another work permit. You are free to apply for both an LMIA and an LMIA exempt permit if you are qualified, but given that you have prior Canadian work experience, it could be worthwhile to think about applying for Canadian permanent residence.
Candidates with Canadian work experience have options under the following immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program;
- Provincial Nominee Programs
- Canadian Experience Class
- Options for Immigration to Quebec
By taking our free online assessment right now, you can eliminate uncertainty from your plans for Canadian immigration.
After I Graduate, can I Start working before I Apply for my PGWP?
International grads can start working lawfully in Canada if they apply for a PGWP before their study permission expires. If you have been out of status for less than 90 days after your student permit expired, you might be qualified to apply for reinstatement.
How many PGWP Applications may I Submit?
A PGWP application can only be made once. You may wish to apply for your PGWP strategically if you intend to continue your studies after completing your first programme or if you are thinking about enrolling in a longer degree programme in Canada. You will receive a PGWP with a longer validity when you apply after the longest duration of study, up to three years.
How a PGWP can Facilitate your Canada Express Entry Draw
An applicant is in a strong position to submit an application through the Canada express entry immigration system by connecting Canadian education with significant full-time work experience in the nation. An express entry draw applicant will benefit from extra points towards their comprehensive ranking system (CRS) score if they have Canadian job experience and credentials, making them more competitive with other applicants for obtaining permanent resident status!
All the Information you need to know about the Canadian Experience Class Immigration to Canada!
An immigration category called the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) enables people who have worked in Canada for at least a year to enter permanently. Canada’s Express Entry immigration programme includes CEC.
The Canadian government recognises the vast pool of brilliant people already employed there and encourages their application for permanent residency. These are people and families who have established themselves in Canada and have made plans for the future.