Post Study Work Visa Canada

What is a Post-Graduation Work Visa?

International students who have finished their studies at a Canadian Designated Learning Institution are granted Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) . PGWPs are open work permits that allow foreign nationals to work for any company in Canada, regardless of location.

GWPs enable qualified graduates to gain valuable work experience in Canada. Many foreigners qualify for Canada's permanent residency programmes after having sufficient work experience in the nation, which includes one of the following options:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
• Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
• Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)
• Quebec Immigration Programs

What are the Categories of Work Permits?

Temporary Foreign Workers Program

The usual temporary worker visa is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. It is given to foreign workers who have previously accepted a job offer from a Canadian employer and for whom the company has obtained a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from the Government of Canada.

Open Work Permit

The Open Work Permit is issued to foreign workers who arrive in Canada with a job offer but wish to change companies. This is distinct from other work permits/visas because it is not employer-specific. Other work permits/visas do not permit you to change jobs.

Working Holiday Visa

The Working Holiday Visa is granted to young people from 30 countries so that they can work and travel in Canada. It is a random selection visa, meaning that applicants will submit their applications and then wait to be chosen randomly to apply for the work permit.

Post Graduate Work Permit

The Post Graduate Work Permit is granted to students who have finished a degree from a Canadian educational institution and wish to remain in Canada for an extended period of time by working.

Eligibility Criteria for PGWP in Canada

The following levels of study and programs are eligible for PGWPs:

• a public post-secondary school in Quebec, such as a college, trade/technical school, or university, or a CEGEP; or a private post-secondary school that operates under the same rules as public schools (only applies to certain institutions in Quebec); or a private secondary or post-secondary school (in Quebec) that offers qualifying programmes of 900 hours or more, leading to a diplôme d'études professionnelles (DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle.
• Canadian private schools that can legally offer degrees under provincial law only to students enrolled in degree-granting programmes approved by the government.

Duration of Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP) Canada

A PGWP (post-graduation work permit) is valid for three years. Your permit will be valid for the duration of your studies in Canada. The permission is only valid for the course of your academic programme.

If the official length of your program of study is:

• Less than eight months: you are not eligible for the PGWP program.
• Less than two years but more than eight months: you will get a work permit for a period equal to your course duration.
• Two years or more: you will be granted a work permit for three years.

When Should I Apply for PSW in Canada?

• A Personal Support Worker (PSW) is an essential member of the healthcare team. Patients are assisted by Personal Support Workers with bedside and personal care duties such as dressing, moving, and bathing.
• Working as a PSW is a demanding job, especially in Canada. According to Employment Canada, students interested in a career in the health sector can apply for 60% of full-time Personal Support Worker job opportunities.
• Students can apply for PSWR because there has been a significant increase in demand for it.

How do I get my Letter of Completion?

The Letter of Completion is a letter issued by the College stating that a student has completed their award requirements and is either eligible to graduate or has graduated. An application must be assessed and accepted by the Discipline, Finance, Library, and Learning and Teaching Committees before a student can receive a Letter of Completion. As a result, a Letter of Completion cannot be granted until about 15 working days after the students' final results have been disclosed.

What Can You Do If Your Passport Expires Before Your PGWP?

Make sure your passport is valid for the duration of your PGWP.

Whether your passport expires before your PGWP, the government will issue you a PGWP that is only valid until the expiration of your passport and will notify you if you need to extend it in order to obtain the full validity of your PGWP. You may only extend a PGWP if the government authorise it. If this happens, you must apply in writing to have your PGWP extended for the whole time.

Can I work while I am applying for the PGWP in Canada?

You can work full-time while waiting for a decision on your post-graduation work permit application if, at the time you submitted your application, you:

Have a valid study permit, had completed your academic programme, were allowed to labour off-campus without a permit and worked no more than 20 hours per week away from school during academic sessions

How To Restore Your Status As A Canadian Student?

• A temporary resident who held a work permit and lost their status can seek restoration of their temporary resident status and authorization to work in Canada within 90 days of losing their status.
• They can also apply for and pay for a work permit if they meet the requirements of the programme.
• Their work permit application will be processed if they are given a study permit. If they meet the requirements for study permit issuance, they may apply for a study permit and pay the fees in addition to filing for restoration and a new work permit.
• Only when the work permit and restoration applications have been approved will the research permission be considered.

Ways To Get A More Permanent Work Visa After Studying In Canada

Canadian Experience Class: The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) programme, which is administered through the Express Entry immigration system, is one of the quickest methods to get Canadian permanent residence. While there are a variety of eligibility factors for this programme, including age, language proficiency, and level of education, applicants must demonstrate that they have at least 12 months of continuous, full-time, skilled work experience in Canada within the previous three years or an equivalent amount in part-time experience.

Federal Skilled Worker Program: The FSW programme is a merit-based immigration programme that uses a points-based Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score to automatically rank candidates, inviting only those with the most competitive profiles to apply for permanent residency. FSW can be a wonderful avenue to become a permanent resident if an overseas student passes the eligibility standards and is very competitive in the CRS score system.

Provincial Nominee Programs: Each province and territory in Canada has its own immigration policy known as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNPs). Because each PNP is tailored to the demands of a certain province or territory, it operates differently. Many PNPs favour applicants who have a link to the province, such as past studies completed in the province or work experience earned in the province. An international student may be entitled to apply for a PNP within the province where they completed their degree of study.

Quebec Immigration Options

Quebec has its own immigration system, with rules and procedures that differ from the rest of the country. However, Quebec's immigration programmes, like the rest of Canada's, are constructed in such a way that international students enjoy benefits when applying for permanent residence.

• Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)
• Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW)

How Can Dependents Get a PGWP in Canada?

The Canadian government permits the work permit holder to include his immediate relatives in the application. Your spouse or common-law partner, as well as small children, are permitted to join you in Canada. To be considered a family application, you must include their documents with your application.

• The principal foreign worker's present employer's employment contract/job offer certifies his/her employment.
• a copy of the primary foreign worker's most recent three pay slips
• A copy of the primary foreign worker's work permit is required.
• A genuine student enrollment letter from a Canadian educational institution.
• A copy of the student's study permission is required.

What Visa Is Required For Dependents?

Dependents of a legitimate migrant to a country, such as a spouse, dependent children, or parents, can enter and reside in the country with a dependent visa. Such dependents are eligible to seek a dependent visa to accompany the migrant to the country.

How Can Candidates With Work Experience Apply For A PR In Canada?

The Canadian Experience Class is designed for talented people who have worked in Canada and desire to become permanent residents.

You have to meet the required language levels for each language ability for your job:

• Writing
• Reading
• Listening
• Speaking

Have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada during the last three years before applying—you can achieve this requirement in a variety of ways:

Full-time at one job: 30 hours per week for 12 months equals one year full-time (1,560 hours)

Equal amount in part-time work: for example, 15 hours per week for 24 months equals one year full-time (1,560 hours).

To achieve this criterion, you may work as many part-time jobs as you need.

Full-time work at multiple jobs: 30 hours each week for 12 months at multiple jobs = 1 year full-time (1,560 hours).

Has earned work experience in Canada while on temporary residence status with work authorisation

Ways To Get A More Permanent Work Visa After Studying In Canada

The following are a few Canadian immigration programmes that will teach you about the various ways in which temporary foreign workers can apply for Canadian permanent residency:

Still unclear about anything? Well, not to worry. Contact AECC and get your queries answered today! AECC is one of the world's leading educational consultancies with versatile expert professionals ready to help you with any queries you may have. Contact us so we can be of assistance to you in your journey to achieving your dream.