After completing your graduation, do you want to stay back in Canada and work?
If you are considering staying back in Canada, the Post Graduation Work Permit lets you work full time for almost any employer, no job offer needed. It runs 8 months up to 3 years depending on program length, and you must apply within 180 days of your final marks.
If you are weighing whether to stay back in Canada after your graduation, the practical pathway most international students use is the Post Graduation Work Permit, which lets you work full time for almost any Canadian employer. You do not need a secured job offer to apply for it, which makes it far easier to plan your next step. Your permit's length depends directly on how long your study program actually ran.
Your PGWP Details At A Glance
| Detail | What Applies To You |
|---|---|
| Work type | Open work permit, full time for almost any Canadian employer |
| Job offer required | No |
| Duration | 8 months up to 3 years, based on your program length and type |
| Application window | Within 180 days of receiving your final marks or completion letter |
How This Feeds Into Permanent Residency
- Express Entry is a points based immigration system that favors applicants who hold a Canadian credential and have gained work experience locally through their PGWP.
- Provincial Nominee Programs let provinces nominate graduates based on local labor market gaps and regional high demand occupations.
- Gaining real Canadian work experience through your PGWP acts as a primary stepping stone toward these permanent residency routes.
My Advice
Mark your final marks or completion letter date the moment you get it, since your 180 day window to apply for the PGWP starts counting immediately from there. While you work under your PGWP, track your Express Entry points and check Provincial Nominee Program criteria for your field, so you can move toward permanent residency as soon as you are eligible.
How long can you stay and work after a Canadian master's?
Post-study work rules are changing. Know what you will actually get.
More Post-study work questions
- Is Germany the best first priority country for my course and career scope for a Master's?
- What are the career prospects in Singapore after completing an MPH at NUS as an Indian student?
- After completing my studies, can I stay back in Ireland and apply for permanent residency for a Master's/Bachelor's?
- Can an Indian student get a job in Germany after a master's without prior work experience, especially with good German skills?
- How good is the post masters job market in the UK and Europe for Indian students, especially after an MSc in Finance?
- Is the negativity about Germany's job market for Indian students accurate, or does effort make the real difference?
- What are the differences in career opportunities and PR options between Germany and Canada?
- Is my daughter planning to settle down abroad with permanent residency or just study in Singapore/USA for a Master's?
More Canada questions
- Other than Canada and Netherlands, are there better countries to study science and technology in Germany/Singapore?
- What are the options for pursuing a master's in psychology or clinical psychology given my bachelor's background in biology in Australia/Canada?
- Will there be any problems if I do my studies offline abroad given the education structure is different from India in Ireland/Canada?
- What should I do to improve my chances of going to Canada as a teacher?
- What is the minimum budget required for studying abroad in Canada or Ireland for two years?
- Is it better to apply for UK or consider other countries for my master's in business analytics in Australia/Canada?
- What is the approximate scholarship amount I can get with around 90% or 9.2 CGPA in UK/Canada for a Postgraduate?
- Does it make a difference if my psychology degree from India is not from a UGC-approved college when applying for licensing abroad in UK/Canada?