Getting an international degree opens up tons of opportunities, including staying abroad after your degree! Canada has the post graduation work permit set up for this specific purpose.
What is a post graduation work permit?
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allows new graduates from participating designated learning institutions to stay in Canada to gain work experience. A designated learning institution is a school that has been approved to host international students; meaning most colleges and universities qualify. Assuming a student has completed their studies without breaching any conditions on their student visa, the application is simple.
How long can I stay?
The visa is valid anywhere between nine months and three years depending on how long your study program is. For most cases involving international student university graduates, the visa is set for three years.
How do I apply?
After receiving your final marks, you have 180 days to apply for a PGWP. The student study permit must still be valid during this application process. The sooner a student applies after graduation, the better, as the average processing time is 88 days.
If you do let your permit expire during this time, it’s still possible to apply. You just need to pay an extra fee ($350CAD) to restore the student status before going ahead with the PGWP.
It can be done online or with mail-in paper applications; online is normally more efficient. The current cost of the visa is $255CAD. There are two things that are required to be submitted: an official document or letter from the school proving you’ve completed your studies and your transcripts. After the application, your biometrics have to be submitted as well (fingerprints and a photo). While you wait for your permit to process, it is illegal to work in Canada without authorization.
Will this help me get permanent residency?
The short answer is yes. The post graduation work permit is not an immediate route to permanent residence (PR), but the experience you gain during this time is a prerequisite that allows you to qualify.
Graduating from your degree in Canada and working through the PGWP gives you points in the Comprehensive Ranking System, which determines which applicants will be invited to apply for PR.
The application afterwards is usually done through the Canadian Express Class or Provincial Nominee Program. Each province has its own standards and requirements. All the information regarding specific provincial streamline processes are available on the Canadian government immigration sites.
There are lots of reasons why someone would want to stay in Canada after graduating from university: the lifestyle, the work, the liberties, and the list goes on! The process to get a Post-Graduate Work Permit is straightforward.
To make this even easier, all the information regarding the PGWP and useful Questions & Answers are available directly on the government of Canada site. If you’ve found a sense of home within the country and wish to stay longer to gain valuable work experience, don’t delay the application!