PGWP for international students is one of the most sorted solutions to prolong their stay in Canada after graduation. Canada is one of the few countries comprising a desirable education system specifically for international students. A majority of international candidates wish to extend their stay in the country after completing their graduation.
According to the “Canadian Bureau of International Education survey,” 59.4 percent of respondents expressed their desire to become permanent residents in Canada once they graduate.
International students in Canada significantly contribute to Canada as they bring a fresh perspective to the educational system prevailing in the country.
International students seeking to extend their stay in Canada after graduation can do so through the Post-Graduation Work Permit. The PGWP provides an open work permit for a maximum of up to three years. Candidates who graduate from Designated Learning Institutes can work under an employer of their choice even if they don’t hold a job offer at the time of applying. Essentially, the program’s validity will largely depend upon the duration or length of your study program through which you graduated.
PGWP for international students- its eligibility requirements
The applicant can determine his eligibility criteria through the following key points:
- Completion of education from a DLI in programs concerning vocational, academic, or professional training. The study programs must equal at least eight months and provide a degree, diploma, or certificate.
- They must demonstrate through a transcript or official letter that they fulfill all requirements for the completion of programs.
- Acquired the status of being a full-time student in Canada throughout all academic sessions or completion of study programs. You must include all this information in your PGWP application.
- International students must ensure they graduate from a post-secondary institution ranging from a college or university to a trade or technical school. They could even complete education from a private post-secondary school in Quebec, such as CEGEP. These schools must work with the same rules as Quebec’s public schools. International students could also hold graduation from a private secondary or post-secondary school in Quebec. These must provide programs with a duration of 900 hours and also issue DEP and ASP. They could hold graduation under a Canadian private school through provincial law.
Apart from this, Quebec graduates under professional training or vocational programs must meet the PGWP criteria based on the type of diploma.
Essentially, exemptions will be relevant for those beginning a program between April 202o and July 2022. Additionally, those graduates with an already existing study program in March 2020 or international students who left their studies in the final session of their academics will also access such exemptions.
PGWP eligibility- what about distance learning?
International students who completed their studies under a Designated Learning Institute via distance learning might become eligible for a PGWP. However, this will be possible only if the students meet all other essential eligibility criteria.
IRCC lays out the following date-specific requirements for students to become eligible:
- August 31, 2022– International students completing studies online from foreign countries or submitting their study permit applications before August 31 can complete their education online. They will also remain eligible for a PGWP.
- September 1, 2023– From September 1, 2023, onwards, those completing studies from abroad will experience a deduction in the duration of their PGWP. This condition will apply irrespective of when the international student started his studies.
The application process for PGWP
All aspiring PGWP candidates will get 180 days to submit their complete application. You will count these days beginning from the day you receive an official letter and transcript demonstrating that you completed the program.
Once you include the official letter and transcript in your application, the process immediately simplifies.
Next, you must visit the official Canadian government’s website and collect the following documents:
- School’s official letter
- Your diploma or degree
- Official transcript or its copy downloaded from the school website.
However, do remember that IRCC can further request some additional documents for their satisfaction. After completing the above step, candidates can begin to apply for a PGWP either through paper or digitally. Essentially, the candidate’s location, that is, whether he will be applying from abroad or within Canada will determine the steps involved in the application process.
Applicants are liable to prove that they presently possess a valid study permit, have previously held one, or have been granted permission to stay in Canada without a work permit.
For instance, if an applicant’s present study permit will expire soon, they must apply for a visitor record. Applying for this will permit them to prolong their Canadian stay or leave Canada to apply for a PGWP from outside the country.
PGWP for international students- essential details
The international students under the PGWP program must submit two essential documents with their application including an official letter and transcript. These documents will prove your study completion from a DLI. Besides this, international students must note that the validity of PGWP will depend upon the length of their educational program.
IRCC formulated the following regulations:
- The student won’t hold eligibility if the study program is less than eight months duration.
- The PGWP validity will align with the length of the study program.
- However, the maximum duration for a PGWP holder to stay in Canada will be three years.
Additionally, if an international student managed to complete more than one program with at least an eight-month duration, he will become eligible to combine both the PGWPs.
PGWP can lead to permanent residence
All PGWP holders can benefit significantly if they can apply for permanent residence in Canada. This program provides the opportunity for potential candidates to gain professional work experience in Canada. Generally, PGWP holders will have to gain a minimum of one year of Canadian work experience under a NOC skill level O, A, or B to gain eligibility under a PR program and apply for permanent residence.
PGWP holders can largely benefit from their previous work or study experience in Canada. This is because a majority of immigration programs give preference to such candidates during the evaluation procedure for permanent residence.
