Can you explain the student visa and work permit duration for a one-year diploma program in public health in Canada?
Your study permit will cover your one year public health program plus an extra 90 days to prepare for departure or extend your status. Your resulting Post-Graduation Work Permit also runs one year, matching your diploma length, applied for within 180 days of final grades.
Your study permit and your Post-Graduation Work Permit will both run close to one year, but they cover different windows and come with different conditions you need to track. The study permit gives you your full program length plus a 90 day buffer to either leave or change your status. The PGWP, issued after you graduate, matches your one year diploma exactly, so there is no bonus time built in the way some longer programs get.
Your Visa Timeline
| Permit | Duration | Key Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Study Permit | Program length plus 90 days | Covers your entire one year diploma |
| Post-Graduation Work Permit | 1 year, matching your diploma length | Must apply within 180 days of your final grades |
Eligibility You Need To Protect
- Study full time at an eligible Designated Learning Institution (DLI) throughout your diploma
- Confirm your public health field matches IRCC's current skills shortage list for college graduates
- Apply for your PGWP within 180 days of receiving your final official grades or completion confirmation
My Advice
Set a reminder for the 180 day PGWP window the moment you receive your final grades, since missing it can cost you your entire post-graduation work eligibility on a technicality. Double check your specific program's eligibility for PGWP with your college's international office before you enroll, not after, since not every diploma on the shortage list today stays there for future intakes.
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