Work Permit

The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) allows students who have graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) to obtain an open work permit.

You need to know if you are eligible to work after you graduate. Not all designated learning institutions and not all programs of study make you eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. To see the list of eligible DLIs and eligible programs, click on - https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/prepare/designated-learning-institutions-list.html

Post-graduation work permits are exempt from Labour Market Impact Assessments. They are considered open work permit. With a post-graduation work permit, as with all open work permits, graduates can work full time, part-time and be self-employed.

A post-graduation work permit may be issued based on the length of the study program for a minimum of 8 months up to a maximum of 3 years depending on several factors.

Post-graduation work permit eligibility requirements -

To obtain a post-graduation work permit, the applicant must currently hold valid temporary status or have left Canada. They must have graduated from an eligible designated learning institution (DLI). They have up to 180 days after you graduate to apply for a PGWP. They must also submit clear evidence that they meet all the following criteria:

• They have completed an academic, vocational, or professional training program at an eligible institution in Canada that is at least 8 months in duration leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
• They have maintained full-time student status in Canada during each academic session of the program or programs of study they have completed and submitted as part of their post-graduation work permit application. Exceptions can be made only for:
  • leave from studies
  • final academic session
• They have received a transcript and an official letter from the eligible DLI confirming that they have met the requirements to complete their program of study.
  • The letter confirming completion of the program of study is used to assess the requirements referred to above. Officers may request additional documents to complete the assessment of the application.
  • The applicant may provide an official transcript issued by their DLI if available. Alternatively, the applicant may also provide a transcript copy from their DLI’s website.

Students who have completed their program of study are allowed to work (under paragraph 186(w) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations [IRPR]) while they are waiting for a decision on their post-graduation work permit application, provided they meet all the following criteria:

• they are or were holders of a valid study permit at the time of the post-graduation work permit application
• they were a full-time student enrolled at a DLI in a post-secondary academic, vocational, or professional training program
• they were authorized to work off-campus without a work permit
• they did not exceed the allowable hours of work

Students are ineligible for PGWP if they:

• have previously been issued a post-graduation work permit
• received funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
• participated in the Government of Canada Awards Program funded by GAC
• obtained the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, Canada–Chile
• participated in the Canada–China Scholars’ Exchange Program
• participated in the Organization of American States Fellowships Program
• completed most of the credits toward the completion of their program of study by distance learning
• completed a program of study delivered by a non-Canadian institution located in Canada, regardless of their length of stay in Canada

A bridging open work permit (BOWP) lets you keep working while you wait for the results of your permanent residence application.

You may be eligible if you applied to one of the permanent residence programs below.

• Permanent residence using Express Entry
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• Quebec skilled workers
• Home Child-Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot
• Caring for children class or caring for people with high medical needs class
• Agri-Food Pilot

Spouses under Family class in Canada

Applicants can also apply for an Open work permit if they are applying or have applied for Permanent Residency under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class. Remember that while the spouse or partner’s permanent residence application is being processed, they must

• maintain legal status as a temporary resident in Canada, and
• they can continue to work if they have a work permit or wait for their work permit application to be approved before starting to work.
  • If they already have a work permit that is expiring, they can keep working as long as they maintain their status as a worker.

Spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit if they:

• a) If you are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence
• b) If you are the spouse or common-law partner of an international student
• c) If you are the spouse or common-law partner of a skilled worker

Your spouse or common-law partner’s work permit will be valid for the same period of time as your study permit or work permit.

a) If you are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence

You may be eligible for an open work permit if you’ve been included on an application for permanent residence that has been found complete or has received a positive eligibility assessment. Your application must be under 1 of the following:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Canadian experience class
• Provincial Nominee Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Quebec-selected skilled workers
• Caring for children class
• Caring for people with high medical needs class
• Agri-Food Pilot

You may also be eligible for an open work permit if you’ve been included on an application for permanent residence based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds and the application has been approved in principle.

You also need to meet the general eligibility requirements for a work permit.

b) If you are the spouse or common-law partner of an international student

Spouses or common-law partners of certain foreign nationals who hold a study permit and study on a full-time basis in post-graduation work permit-eligible study programs and institutions may apply for an open work permit.

Your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit if you:

• have a valid study permit
• are eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) and
• are a full-time student at one of these types of schools:
  • a public post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec
  • a private college-level school in Quebec
  • a Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law (for example, Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate degree)

c) If you are a spouse or common-law partner of a skilled worker

The applicant for a spousal open work permit must be in a genuine relationship with a principal foreign national who does not hold an open work permit issued under LMIA-exemption code C41 or C42 and meets all of the following:

• holds a valid work permit (employer-specific or open under a non-spousal category) or is authorized to work in Canada without a permit under the authority of section R186, except R186(w)
• is authorized to work in Canada for a period of at least 6 months after the spousal open work permit application is received
• is employed in one of the following:
  • a high-skilled occupation (TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3)
  • any occupation classified as TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 when accepted in one of the Atlantic Immigration Program streams
  • any occupation and holds a formal nomination pursuant to a federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) agreement concerning permanent residence
  • any occupation and holds a selection certificate for permanent residence as a skilled worker pursuant to the Canada-Quebec Accord
• is physically residing or plans to physically reside in Canada while employed
• is in a genuine relationship with the spouse or common-law partner

Spouses or common-law partners of open work permit holders other than BOWP

If the person is the holder of an open work permit, except for an open permit issued under LMIA exemption category C41/C42 and they are working full-time in an TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation, their spouse or common-law partner may apply for a spousal open work permit.

Spouses or common-law partners of bridging open work permit (BOWP) holders

If the principal foreign national has obtained a bridging open work permit (BOWP) [LMIA-exemption code A75 – Province of destination: all except Quebec), the following eligibility requirements apply:

• All principal foreign nationals’ work permits must be valid for 6 months or longer, regardless of permanent resident category.
• The principal foreign national must be in Canada, however the spouse or common-law partner may be inside or outside Canada.
• Applications (BOWP and C41 WP) may be submitted together if they are both in Canada, but the C41 WP cannot be issued before the BOWP. If the spouse or common-law partner is outside Canada, they must wait until the principal foreign national obtains their BOWP to apply for the spousal open work permit.
  • For spouses or common-law partners of federal skilled worker class (FSWC) applicants, the BOWP holder must be performing work that falls within NOC skill level 0, A or B.
  • For spouses or common-law partners of provincial nominee class (PNC) applicants, the spouse or common-law partner is eligible for an open work permit for the duration of the work permit held by the principal PNC applicant, irrespective of the skill level of the principal PNC applicant’s occupation.
  • For spouses or common-law partners of federal skilled trades class (FSTC) applicants, the BOWP holder must be performing work that is within one of the skilled trade occupations in NOC skill level B.
  • For spouses or common-law partners of Canadian experience class (CEC) applicants, the BOWP holder must be performing work that falls within NOC skill level 0, A or B.
  • For spouses or common-law partners of caregiver applicants (application for permanent residence under the caring for children class or caring for people with high medical needs class received before June 18, 2019), the BOWP holder must be performing work within one of the qualifying occupations in NOC skill level 0, A or B.
  • For spouses or common-law partners of Agri-Food Pilot (AFP) applicants, the BOWP holder must be performing work that is at a level that falls within NOC skill level 0, A or B.
  • For spouses or common-law partners of Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) applicants, the spouse or common-law partner is eligible for an open work permit for the duration of the BOWP held by the principal QSW applicant, irrespective of the skill level of the principal QSW applicant’s occupation.

Spouses or common-law partners of Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) work permit holders

The principal foreign national must be working in any occupation level in NOC 0, A, B or C, has a work permit issued under any category and approval under one of the AIP streams.

The principal foreign national’s work permit must be valid for 6 months after the spousal open work permit application is submitted. The spousal open work permit should have a validity that matches the principal foreign national’s work permit or until the expiry of the spouse or common-law partner’s passport or travel document, whichever is earlier.

The spousal open work permit application may be submitted inside or outside of Canada. It may be submitted with or after the principal foreign national’s work permit application.

Spouses or common-law partners of Quebec selection certificate (CSQ) holders

If the principal foreign national was issued an employer-specific work permit as a CSQ holder [LMIA-exemption code A75 – Province of residence and destination is Quebec] or an open work permit as a CSQ holder outside Quebec [LMIA-exemption code A76], for any occupation skill level, a spousal open work permit may be approved.

The principal foreign national’s work permit must be valid for 6 months after the spousal open work permit application is submitted. The spousal open work permit should have a validity that matches the principal foreign national’s work permit, or until the expiry of the spouse or common-law partner’s passport or travel document, whichever is earlier.

The spousal open work permit application may be submitted inside or outside of Canada. It may be submitted with or after the principal foreign national’s work permit application.

Spouses or common-law partners of provincial nominees

If the principal foreign national is working at any occupation level, has a work permit issued under any category and has a formal nomination from a province other than Quebec:

The principal foreign national’s work permit must be valid for 6 months after the spousal open work permit application is submitted. The spousal open work permit should have a validity that matches the principal foreign national’s work permit or until the expiry of the spouse or common-law partner’s passport or travel document, whichever is earlier.

The spousal open work permit application may be submitted inside or outside of Canada. It may be submitted with or after the principal foreign nationals permit application.

If you’re being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to your job in Canada, you may be eligible for an open work permit for vulnerable workers.

This work permit helps protect your rights as a worker in Canada by helping you leave an abusive situation to find a new job. However, it’s a temporary solution and:

• has an expiry date, and
• can’t be renewed

If you’re approved for this work permit, it should give you enough time to find a new employer and apply for a new work permit . You must apply for another work permit before this one expires if you want to stay and work in Canada.

You can apply for this category if you:

• are inside Canada
  • applications made at a port of entry won’t be accepted
• have a valid employer-specific work permit
  • this is a work permit that has your employer’s name on it and isn’t expired (or you applied to extend it before it expired)
• are being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to your job in Canada

You and your family members may be eligible for open work permits if you’re making a refugee claim and

1. you need a job to pay for food, clothing and shelter
2. the family members you want permits for
   • are with you in Canada
   • plan to work
   • are also applying for refugee status

Under section 208 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), work permits may be issued to foreign nationals who cannot support themselves without working and who are

• study permit holders who have become temporarily destitute through circumstances beyond their control and beyond the control of any person on whom that person is dependent for financial support to complete their term of study or
• temporary resident permit (TRP) holders where the TRP was issued under subsection 24(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and is valid for at least 6 months

Under section 206 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), work permits may be issued to foreign nationals who cannot support themselves without working and who are

• refugee claimants whose claim has been referred to the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) but not been determined [R206(1)(a)] or
• subject to an unenforceable removal order [R206(1)(b)]

As per R202 of IRPR, applicants who are issued a work permit under section R206 do not, by reason only of being issued a work permit, become temporary residents.

Applications under this section may be received in person during the claim process or through an electronic process or be mailed.

A temporary resident permit (TRP) does not exempt the TRP holder or their family members from the requirement to apply for work and study permits.

When an application for a TRP is received, an officer may consider issuing

• a work permit to a TRP holder if the TRP is valid for at least six months under subsection 199(d) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations;
• a study permit to a TRP holder or their family members if the TRP is valid for at least six months, and they meet the requirements applicable to foreign nationals seeking a study permit under subsection R215(e) of the IRPR.

International Experience Canada (IEC) gives youth the opportunity to travel and work in Canada for up to 2 years.

To participate in this category, your country or territory of citizenship must have a Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada, or you may be able to use a recognized organization

Some countries only allow you to participate once. Others allow you to participate twice, but in different categories. Because each country is different, it’s important that you check to see if you’re eligible to apply.

Even if you’re issued an invitation to apply, you can’t participate more times than your country allows. After you submit your application, an officer will assess your eligibility, including your past participations. Make sure you read and understand all the requirements before you submit an application.

There are 3 different kinds of work and travel experiences available:

a. Working holidays - This category is for you if

• you don’t have a job offer
• you want to work for more than one employer in Canada
• you want to work in more than one location
• you’d like to earn some money so that you can travel

The type of work permit you get for Working Holiday is an open work permit. This lets you work for almost any employer in Canada (some exceptions apply).

You’ll need to get a medical exam first for some jobs.

b. Young Professionals - This category is for you if

• you have a job offer in Canada that contributes to your professional development
• you’ll work for the same employer in the same location during your stay in Canada

Under this category, work must be

• paid
• not self-employed

The type of work permit you get in the Young Professionals category is an employer-specific work permit.

Your employer must meet all labour laws in the province or territory where you plan to work, including minimum wage requirements.

The job you are offered in Canada must be classified as a National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type or level 0, A or B to be considered as contributing to your “professional development.”

An NOC C job may qualify if it’s in your field of study. When you apply, you’ll need to submit your post-secondary

• diploma
• certificate or
• degree

It must be translated into English or French.

This category is for applicants whose intention is to gain work experience in Canada under a pre-arranged contract of employment in support of their career development. As of 2015, the job offered in Canada must be classified as National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type level 0, A or B to be considered professional experience. A NOC C job might be accepted if the applicant can submit a post-secondary diploma, certificate or degree with their work permit application, demonstrating that the job offer is in their field of study and contributes to their professional development. This rule also applies to those intending to work in the agricultural industry.

No self-employment should be accepted for this category. Under the Young Professionals category, work is required to be paid, and remuneration can come from a foreign source.

Young Professionals candidates should be assessed based only on the NOC. Previous job experience should not be assessed, as has been the case during IEC’s previous seasons.

c. International co-op - This category is for you if:

• you’re a student registered at a post-secondary institution
• you have a job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada
• you need to do this work placement or internship to complete your studies
• you’ll work for the same employer in the same location during your stay in Canada

The type of work permit you get in the International Co-op (Internship) category is an employer-specific work permit. The internship you’re offered in Canada must be directly linked to your field of studies.

Wages and labour standards must follow the labour laws in the province or territory you will be working in. The labour code of the province or territory will determine if an internship needs to be paid or not.

If you’re a citizen of a partner country, you may be able to apply to one or more of these 3 categories.

If you aren’t a citizen of a partner country, you may still be able to apply to IEC through a recognized organization.